In Ancient Bodies, Modern Lives, anthropologist Wenda Trevathan explores a range of women's health issues, with a specific focus on reproduction, that may be viewed through an evolutionary lens. Trevathan illustrates the power and potential of examining the human life cycle from an evolutionary perspective, and how such an approach could help improve both our understanding of women's health and our ability to respond to health challenges in creative and effective ways.
The story of human evolution has been told hundreds of times, each time with a focus that seems most informative of the teller. No matter how it is told the primary characters are rarely mothers and infants. Darwin argued survival, but today we know that reproduction is what evolution is all about. Centering on this, Trevathan focuses on birth, which gives the study of human evolution a crucial new dimension.Unique among mammals, humans are bipedal. The evolution of bipedalism required fundamental changes in the pelvis and resulted in a narrow birth canal. Humans are also large-brained animals, which means that birth is much more challenging for our species than for most other animals. The result of this mismatch of large head and narrow pelvis is that women are highly dependent on assistance at birth and their babies are born in an unusually undeveloped state when the brain is still small. Human Birth discusses how the birth process has evolved and ways in which human birth differs from birth in all other mammals.Human Birth is also concerned with mother-infant interaction immediately after birth. While working as a midwife trainee, Trevathan carefully documented the births of more than one hundred women and recorded maternal and infant behaviors during the first hour after birth. She suggests ways in which the interactions served not only to enhance mother-infant bonding, but also to ensure survival in the evolutionary past. With clarity and compelling logic Trevathan argues that modern birth practices often fail to meet evolved needs of women and infants and suggests changes that could lead to better birth experiences. This paperback edition includes a new introduction by the author.
Looking for the perfect tool to help you ace your anthropology class? The Study Guide for INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY includes chapter outlines, key terms, Internet activities, and practice tests (answers provided) with a variety of question types-ideal for test prep!
Concise, well-balanced, and comprehensive, ESSENTIALS OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 10th Edition, introduces you to physical anthropology with the goal of helping you understand why it is important to know about human evolution. You'll learn how humans are biologically connected to all other life, including our ancient ancestors and our contemporary primate cousins, and how closely modern human populations are related to each other. Numerous high-quality visual diagrams, artwork, maps, photographs, and other learning tools will help you grasp the big picture of human evolution. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY brings the study of physical anthropology to life! With a focus on the big picture of human evolution, the 15th Edition helps you master the basic principles of the subject and arrive at an understanding of the human species and its place in the biological world. Each chapter begins with new Student Learning Objectives and a chapter outline to help you focus your study time. Each chapter then ends with an expanded section of �How Do We Know?�, followed by a critical thinking question, designed to help cement your understanding of the concepts.
Best-selling PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: THE ESSENTIALS, 9E, International Edition, presents a concise and authoritative introduction to physical anthropology with the goal of helping students understand why it is important to know about human evolution by showing how humans are biologically connected to all other life. These biological connections link our species with our ancient ancestors, our contemporary primate cousins, and show how closely modern human populations are related to each other. The text has been reframed to emphasize this theme of biological connections as well as the connections between chapters in the material presented. This new framework will better help students grasp the big picture of human evolution and better navigate the material. Supported by new chapter opening Learning Objectives, new visual diagrams (see Chapter One)and other summation pedagogy such as "What's Important" boxes that put key chapter concepts into perspective for students, this text continues to help students master basic biological principles of physical anthropology and so be able to better understand human origins and our place in the biological world. Altogether, PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: THE ESSENTIALS, 9E, International Edition integrates coverage of the latest finds with relevant technologies to be the most up-to-date text available.
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2013-2014 Edition continues to present the most up-to-date, balanced, and comprehensive introduction to the field, combining an engaging writing style and compelling visual content to bring the study of physical anthropology to life for today’s students. With a focus on the big picture of human evolution, the text helps students master the basic principles of the subject and arrive at an understanding of the human species and its place in the biological world. This book continues to keep pace with changes in the field, with new material on genetic technology and other topics reflecting recent scientific findings. In this edition, the unifying concept of our “connection” to all life has been integrated as a framework for presenting the material throughout the text. To further reinforce this central focus, each chapter now opens with a pedagogical aid that clearly shows students the biological connections as they are organized within and between chapters.
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2013-2014 Edition continues to present the most up-to-date, balanced, and comprehensive introduction to the field, combining an engaging writing style and compelling visual content to bring the study of physical anthropology to life for today's students. With a focus on the big picture of human evolution, the book helps readers master the basic principles of the subject and arrive at an understanding of the human species and its place in the biological world. This book continues to keep pace with changes in the field, with new material on genetic technology and other topics reflecting recent scientific findings. In this edition, the unifying concept of our connection to all life has been integrated as a framework for presenting the material throughout the text. Available with InfoTrac Student Collections http://gocengage.com/infotrac. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2011-2012 continues to present the most up-to-date and balanced, comprehensive introduction to the field, combining an engaging writing style and compelling visual content to bring the study of physical anthropology to life for today’s students. With a focus on the big picture of human evolution, the text helps students master the basic principles of the subject and arrive at an understanding of the human species and its place in the biological world. This book continues to keep pace with changes in the field by including thorough coverage of cutting-edge advances in molecular biology and genomics, primatology, key fossil discoveries, and modern human biology. A new Conclusion: Why it Matters, drives home the importance of understanding human evolution and the incredible impact our species has had, and will continue to have, on the environment and all life forms on this planet. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.
The story of human evolution has been told hundreds of times, each time with a focus that seems most informative of the teller. No matter how it is told the primary characters are rarely mothers and infants. Darwin argued survival, but today we know that reproduction is what evolution is all about. Centering on this, Trevathan focuses on birth, which gives the study of human evolution a crucial new dimension.Unique among mammals, humans are bipedal. The evolution of bipedalism required fundamental changes in the pelvis and resulted in a narrow birth canal. Humans are also large-brained animals, which means that birth is much more challenging for our species than for most other animals. The result of this mismatch of large head and narrow pelvis is that women are highly dependent on assistance at birth and their babies are born in an unusually undeveloped state when the brain is still small. Human Birth discusses how the birth process has evolved and ways in which human birth differs from birth in all other mammals.Human Birth is also concerned with mother-infant interaction immediately after birth. While working as a midwife trainee, Trevathan carefully documented the births of more than one hundred women and recorded maternal and infant behaviors during the first hour after birth. She suggests ways in which the interactions served not only to enhance mother-infant bonding, but also to ensure survival in the evolutionary past. With clarity and compelling logic Trevathan argues that modern birth practices often fail to meet evolved needs of women and infants and suggests changes that could lead to better birth experiences. This paperback edition includes a new introduction by the author."--Provided by publisher.
A new Physical Anthropology telecourse titled, Physical Anthropology: The Evolving Human, will be available spring 2008. The telecourse provides online and print companion study guide options that include study aids, interactive exercises, video, and more.
This module by Kathy Galvin begins with a brief discussion of the history and core concepts of the field of human ecology, the study of how humans interact with the natural environment. It then looks in-depth at how the environment influences cultural practices (environmental determinism), as well as how aspects of culture, in turn, affect the environment. Human behavioral ecology is presented within the context of natural selection and how ecological factors influence the development of cultural and behavioral traits, and how people subsist in different environments. The module concludes with a discussion of resilience and global change as a result of human-environment interactions.
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