Anthropology

Abanyom language Abanyom is a Southern Bantoid (Ekoid) language spoken in Cross River State, Nigeria. It is tonal, has a Niger–Congo noun-class system and is closely related to Bantu languages; spe…

Acholi people: history, culture, language and contemporary life Acholi people The Acholi are a Luo Nilotic ethnic group primarily of northern Uganda (about 1.2 million people). This article outlines their language, social organization, history, cultural prac…

Adolescence: the transition from childhood to adulthood Adolescence Adolescence is the life stage between childhood and adulthood marked by biological, psychological and social change; age ranges and rites vary across cultures and legal systems.

Adoption (child) — overview, types, process and social aspects Adoption Adoption is the legal and social process by which an adult becomes the permanent parent of a child. This article explains forms of adoption, common legal steps, history, and social…

African Americans: identity, history, distribution, and cultural contributions African Americans Overview of African Americans: origins, demographic patterns in the United States, historical background, cultural impact, and the complexities of identity and ancestry.

Afridi (Pashtun tribe of the Khyber region) Afridi The Afridi are a prominent Pashtun tribe centered in the Khyber Pass and Tirah areas of northwest Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan, known for clan organization, Pashtunwali customs…

Afrikaner people: origins, language, history and cultural identity Afrikaner people Afrikaners are a cultural and ethnic group in South Africa whose identity centers on the Afrikaans language, historical ties to European settlers, and distinctive social and cultur…

Afro-Asians (people of mixed African and Asian heritage) Afro-Asians People of mixed African and Asian ancestry — overview of terms, history, regional communities, cultural life, and social issues affecting Afro-Asian identities.

Afro-Bahamians: People, History, and Culture Afro-Bahamians Afro-Bahamians are Bahamians of African descent who form the majority of the population. This article outlines their origins, cultural traits, history, and role in modern Bahamian…

Afro-Colombians Afro-Colombian People in Colombia of African descent with diverse histories, cultures, and recognized collective rights; prominent on coasts and islands and influential in national life.

Afro-Haitians: Origins, History, Culture, and Demography Afro-Haitians Afro-Haitians are Haitians of predominantly African descent. This article outlines their origins in the Atlantic slave trade, the Haitian Revolution, cultural life, and contemporar…

Agnivansha (Agnivanshi): The Fire Lineage of Rajput Clans Agnivansha Agnivansha (Agnivanshi) denotes a traditional 'fire' lineage among some Rajput clans, rooted in medieval origin myths and used to explain social identity, status, and genealogies.

AIDS orphan A child who lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. Covers the UN definition, measurement issues, social and economic impacts, regional patterns, caregiving responses and policy cons…

Aimaq people: Persian-speaking nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes Aimaq people The Aimaq are a collection of Persian-speaking nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes mainly in western and central Afghanistan, with smaller communities in Iran and Pakistan; they have d…

Ainu Indigenous people of northern Japan and nearby islands, the Ainu have distinct languages, animist beliefs and material culture. They faced assimilation but today pursue cultural re…

Ainu language: overview, history, dialects and contemporary revival Ainu language Ainu is an indigenous language isolate of northern Japan once spoken across Hokkaidō, Sakhalin and the Kurils. Now critically endangered, it survives through revitalization, study,…

Ainu people: indigenous inhabitants of northern Japan and adjacent Russian islands Ainu people Overview of the Ainu, an indigenous people of Hokkaido and neighboring regions of the Russian Far East: origins, language, culture, history, modern recognition and ongoing revitali…

Akan language: Twi, Fante and the Akan dialect continuum Akan language Akan is a Kwa language group of the Niger–Congo family spoken mainly in Ghana and eastern Côte d'Ivoire. It includes Twi and Fante dialects, is tonal, uses SVO order, and is centra…

Alaska Natives: Peoples, Cultures, and Contemporary Issues Alaska Natives An overview of Alaska Native peoples—major groups, languages, traditional lifeways, history, modern governance, and current challenges including cultural revitalization and climate…

Aleut (Unangax̂): Indigenous people of the Aleutian Islands Aleut Overview of the Aleut (Unangax̂): identity, language, traditional subsistence and clothing, history of contact, and contemporary communities in Alaska and Russia.

Algonquian languages: overview, structure, history, and present status Algonquian languages A comprehensive overview of the Algonquian language family: classification, structural features, geographic spread, history, examples, and contemporary vitality and revitalization…

Alpial — Muslim Rajput tribe of northern Punjab, Pakistan Alpial The Alpial are a Muslim Rajput community in northern Punjab, Pakistan, concentrated around Rawalpindi, Attock and Chakwal. Traditionally agrarian and martial, they retain clan-base…

Altai languages Turkic language group of southern Siberia spoken by Altai peoples, including Southern (official in the Altai Republic) and Northern varieties; agglutinative with vowel harmony and…

Altai people: history, language, culture, and contemporary life Altai people Overview of the Altai people, a Turkic ethnic group of Siberia — their languages, traditional culture, historical roots, regional divisions, and modern challenges in the Altai Repu…

Altaic languages A summary of the Altaic language hypothesis: its proposed members, shared features, history of the idea, and why most specialists regard it as controversial.

American (word, demonym, and adjective) American “American” refers to things related to the Americas or, most commonly, to the United States; its meanings vary by geography, language, law and culture and can be a noun or adjectiv…

American (term): meanings, usage, and distinctions American (word) Overview of the word 'American': its meanings, regional usage, linguistic alternatives, history, and related demonyms across the Americas.

American Canadians Canadian citizens who trace origin, ancestry, or cultural identity to the United States; a diverse group shaped by historical migration, cultural exchange and ongoing cross‑border…

American Jews An overview of Jewish Americans: identity, history, cultural life, institutions, and notable distinctions within the United States.

Americanisation The process by which elements of American culture—language, institutions, media, business practices, and symbols—spread and influence other societies, often asymmetrically.

Americans: citizens, identity, and diversity of the United States Americans Overview of who Americans are, how citizenship is acquired, demographic composition, historical migration, cultural diversity, census categories, and the American diaspora.

Amorites: Ancient Semitic Peoples of Syria and Mesopotamia Amorites The Amorites were a West Semitic population originating in Syria who migrated into Mesopotamia and the Levant in the late third and early second millennia BC, establishing dynastie…

Aṉangu — term used by Western Desert Aboriginal people Aṉangu Aṉangu is a word from the Western Desert languages of central and western Australia used to mean an Aboriginal person. It originally meant 'human being' and now names WDL-speaking…

Ancestor: definition, types, genetics, legal and cultural significance Ancestor An ancestor is an individual or earlier form from which another descends. This article explains biological, evolutionary, legal, and cultural meanings, plus genetic evidence, genea…

Ancestor table (ahnentafel) — numbered ancestry chart Ancestor table An ancestor table (ahnentafel) is a compact numbering system for a person's direct ancestors that assigns each ancestor a fixed number for easy reference and indexing.

Anglo-Indian people: origins, culture, and contemporary community Anglo-Indian people An overview of the Anglo-Indian community—people of mixed British and Indian ancestry—their history under colonial rule, cultural identity, institutions, diaspora and notable disti…

Anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humans — their biology, cultures, languages, histories, and material traces — across time and around the world.

Anthropometry: study of human body measurements and proportions Anthropometry Anthropometry is the systematic study of human body measurements and proportions, applied in health, ergonomics, design, forensics, sports, and population research; methods, histor…

Anthropomorphism: attributing human traits to non-human beings and objects Anthropomorphism Anthropomorphism is attributing human characteristics to animals, objects, or ideas. This article explains its meaning, history, psychological roots, uses in art and commerce, and…

Anthroposophy: Rudolf Steiner's spiritual philosophy and its applications Anthroposophy Anthroposophy is a spiritual-philosophical movement founded by Rudolf Steiner that emphasizes inner development and practical applications in education, agriculture, medicine, and…

Anus language — a small Austronesian tongue of West Papua Anus language Anus is an Austronesian language of West Papua (Irian Jaya), spoken on an island in Sarmi-Jayapura Bay. It is highly endangered and sparsely documented, with very few speakers repo…

Apache peoples: languages, culture, and history of the Southwest Apache Apache refers to several related Native American groups of the American Southwest and southern Plains, speaking Athabaskan languages, with distinct histories, cultures, and modern…

Arab Christians: identity, history and contemporary communities Arab Christians Overview of Arab Christians: origins, denominations, regional distribution, diaspora, cultural contributions, legal status and contemporary challenges in the Middle East and worldw…

Arab Israelis: overview, demographics, history and identity Arab Israelis Arab Israelis (often called Palestinian citizens of Israel) are Arabic-speaking residents of Israel; they form roughly one-fifth of the population and include Muslim, Christian and…

Arabs: people, language, culture and history Arab people Arabs are a diverse ethnolinguistic group mainly in the Middle East and North Africa, united by varieties of the Arabic language and shared cultural traditions with deep historical…

Arain — Muslim agricultural community of South Asia Arain Arain are a predominantly Muslim community from the Punjab region, traditionally associated with agriculture and market gardening; their origins and social roles have evolved acros…

Arakanese (Rakhine) people: history, language, and distribution Arakanese people An overview of the Arakanese (Rakhine) people: their language and culture, historical kingdom of Arakan, and present communities in Myanmar, Bangladesh and India.

Arapaho people Arapaho A Native American people of the North American Great Plains. Traditionally buffalo hunters and horse-mounted nomads, the Arapaho have Northern and Southern branches with distinct h…