According to Julian Steward, the environment and the availability of resources has a definite influence on the form of social organization. This approach to studying cultural evolution, called __________, was exemplified nicely in his study of the social organization of the Shoshone during different seasons of the year.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Julian Steward's approach to studying cultural evolution is called cultural ecology, which examines the relationship between the environment and culture. This approach emphasizes how the availability of resources influences the form of social organization, and Steward illustrated this concept in his study of the Shoshone, who had different social structures during different seasons depending on the resources available. Cultural materialism, on the other hand, focuses on how material conditions shape human behavior, while environmental determinism is a theory that suggests that the physical environment determines the culture and development of societies. "Environmentally driven evolution" is not a commonly used term in anthropology.

According to Julian Steward, the Environment and the Availability of Resources