Anthropology

Sindhi people: history, language, culture, and diaspora Sindhi people Ethnic group originating in Sindh (now in Pakistan). Overview of their Indo-Aryan language, religious diversity, cultural traditions, historical roots, and global diaspora.

Sinocentrism: historical concept of China as the cultural and political center Sinocentrism Sinocentrism is the historical worldview that situates China as the civilizational centre, shaping its diplomacy, tributary order, identity debates, and modern cultural-national na…

Sinti: a Romani people of Central and Western Europe Sinti The Sinti are a Romani-related people of Central and Western Europe with distinct dialects, traditions and history, including wartime persecution and notable cultural contributions…

Sioux (Oceti Sakowin): Plains Native American Peoples Sioux The Sioux, also called Oceti Sakowin, are a group of Indigenous peoples of the North American Plains traditionally organized into Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota language groups, with a…

Skinhead: origins, style, music, and social meanings Skinhead Skinheads are members of a youth subculture that began in late-1960s Britain, noted for a distinctive working-class style, music tastes (ska, reggae, punk, Oi!) and diverse politic…

Slavs: peoples, languages, and historical overview Slavs Overview of the Slavic peoples: classification, languages, distribution, history, cultural features and relations with neighboring groups across Europe and Asia.

Slovaks (Slovakians): people, language, and cultural identity Slovaks Slovaks are a Western Slavic ethnic group centered in Slovakia. This article summarizes their language, history, cultural traits, demographics, and diaspora, with links to related…

Son: definition, roles, and cultural context Son A son is a male child or offspring. This article explains biological, legal and cultural aspects, family roles, types (biological, adopted, stepson) and common distinctions from da…

Sorbs: The West Slavic Minority of Lusatia Sorbs The Sorbs are a West Slavic people concentrated in Lusatia (eastern Germany) with distinct Upper and Lower Sorbian languages, protected minority rights, a living cultural tradition…

Suba language: overview, origins, features and current status Suba language Suba is a nearly extinct Bantu language of East Africa spoken by the Suba people. It arose through contact with Luo and Lusoga speakers and shows both Bantu structure and Nilotic i…

Swahili people: culture, language and coastal heritage Swahili people The Swahili are a coastal East African community and cultural-linguistic tradition rooted in Indian Ocean trade. This article explains their origins, language, society, and modern…

Swedish Americans People in the United States with Swedish ancestry: history of migration, settlement patterns, cultural influence, and social institutions in the US.

Swedish Canadians Canadians of Swedish birth or descent: origins, migration history, settlement patterns, cultural life, language, community organizations and contributions to Canadian society.

Swiss Canadians Canadians of Swiss origin or descent: their history in Canada, language and religious background, cultural organizations, communities, and economic and social contributions.

Syrian Americans Americans of Syrian descent: history of migration, settlement patterns, demographic traits, cultural contributions, and notable distinctions from early arrivals to modern communiti…

Taíno — Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean Taíno Overview of the Taíno: origins, society, economy, spiritual life, European contact, demographic change, archaeology and cultural legacy across the Bahamas and the Antilles.

Tajik people: identity, language, history and culture Tajik people Overview of the Tajik people: Persian-speaking Iranian group of Central Asia — their language (Tajik/Dari), historical roots, religion, cultural traditions, regional distributions…

Tamil people Dravidian ethnic group originating in southern India and northeastern Sri Lanka, speakers of Tamil with a long literary tradition and a widespread global diaspora.

Tanoli (TanoKhel): Overview of a Pashtun-Linked Tribal Community Tanoli Tanoli (TanoKhel) are a tribal community associated with the Pashtun peoples, chiefly in parts of northern Pakistan and some areas of Afghanistan. This article outlines identity, h…

Tarar (Jatt clan of the Punjab region) Tarar Tarar is a Jatt clan primarily found in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, with distinct religious affiliations on either side of the border and a history tied to agriculture…

Tarin (Tareen) — a Pashtun tribal group Tarin Overview of the Tarin (Tareen) Pashtun tribe: origins, distribution across Pakistan and Afghanistan, social structure, cultural traits, notable branches and contemporary significan…

Tatars: peoples, language, history and distribution Tatars Tatars are a diverse set of Turkic-speaking peoples chiefly in Russia and neighboring states. This article outlines their subgroups, language, faith, history, geographic distributi…

Taung Child: discovery, anatomy, and significance in human evolution Taung Child The Taung Child is the juvenile skull fossil of Australopithecus africanus found in 1924 in Taung, South Africa. Its anatomy and endocast influenced views on bipedalism and African…

Tautavel Man — Middle Pleistocene hominin from Caune de l'Arago Tautavel man Middle Pleistocene hominin remains from Caune de l'Arago (Tautavel, France), c.300–450 kya; important for studies of European archaic human morphology, behaviour, technology and ta…

Thai people (Tai ethnic group of Thailand) Thai people Ethnic Thai are the dominant Tai-speaking group of Thailand, with shared language and culture, regional subgroups, a history of migration from southern China, and deep ties to Ther…

The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex The Descent of Man Charles Darwin's 1871 work applying evolutionary theory to humans and introducing sexual selection; a foundational, controversial study that shaped biology, anthropology, and debat…

Thembu people: history, culture, and modern identity Thembu people The Thembu (abaThembu) are a Nguni-speaking people of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, with a distinct kingship, cultural traditions, and historical ties to the broader Xhosa-speaki…

Threesome (sexual activity) Threesome A threesome is sexual activity involving three consenting adults. This article explains forms, history, social and legal aspects, and advice on consent, communication and safer-sex…

Tibetan people: history, language, culture, and modern communities Tibetan people Overview of the Tibetan people: origins, languages, religion, culture, historical developments, diaspora communities and notable regional distinctions.

Tibeto‑Burman languages Tibeto-Burman languages A major branch of the Sino‑Tibetan family spoken across the Himalayan region, Southeast Asia and parts of China and South Asia, comprising hundreds of distinct languages and dialec…

Tocharians: Indo-European peoples of the Tarim Basin Tocharians Ancient inhabitants of the Tarim Basin who spoke Tocharian languages; known from mummies, Buddhist manuscripts, and their distinctive place as an eastern branch of Indo-European.

Toplessness: cultural, legal, and social perspectives Toplessness An overview of toplessness—when a person, typically a woman, is not wearing clothing above the waist—covering definitions, cultural differences, history, typical contexts, and cont…

Torajan people: culture, religion, architecture, and rites Torajan people The Torajans are an indigenous ethnic group of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, known for ancestral houses, elaborate funerals, and the Aluk To Dolo belief alongside Christianity and Isl…

Torres Strait Islanders Indigenous Melanesian peoples of the Torres Strait Islands (Queensland, Australia). Distinct from Aboriginal Australians, with unique languages, seafaring culture, art and long-sta…

Totemism: human–nature kinship systems and cultural emblems Totemism Totemism describes beliefs and social practices linking human groups with animals, plants or natural features; a framework for identity, ritual, art and social rules found in many…

Transgender: identity, terminology, history and social context Transgender An accessible overview of transgender identities: definitions, terminology, history, transition options, social and legal issues, and distinctions from sexual orientation.

Tribadism and Genital Rubbing: Non-penetrative Genital-to-Genital Contact Tribadism Overview of tribadism and genital-to-genital rubbing: definitions, common positions and names, techniques, health risks and safer-sex measures, and cultural and social perspectives…

Tribe: social unit, organization, history and modern relevance Tribe A tribe is a social group linked by kinship, territory, culture and leadership. This article explains characteristics, origins, roles, modern status, and how tribes differ from ban…

Tuareg people: Saharan Berber pastoralists, language, and culture Tuareg people The Tuareg are a Berber-speaking, historically nomadic people of the central and western Sahara. This article summarizes their language, social organization, history, cultural trai…

Tungusic languages Language family of northeastern Asia, including Manchu, Evenki and others; spoken in eastern Siberia and Manchuria. Many are endangered and their relation to Altaic is debated.

Tupi peoples of Brazil: history, culture and legacy Tupi people Overview of the Tupi peoples: origins, society, language, contact with Europeans, cultural practices, and lasting influence on Brazil and its languages.

Turkana Boy (Nariokotome boy) — KNM-WT 15000 Turkana boy Turkana Boy (KNM-WT 15000) is a nearly complete early Homo skeleton from ~1.5 million years ago found near Lake Turkana, Kenya. It has informed debates on species, growth, body pro…

Turkic languages: overview, characteristics, history and distribution Turkic languages A concise encyclopedic overview of the Turkic language family: its structure, major branches, history, writing systems, geographic spread and cultural significance.

Turkic peoples A broad ethnolinguistic group whose members speak Turkic languages, spread across Central Asia, Siberia, the Caucasus, Anatolia and parts of Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Turkish: language, people, and cultural identity Turkish Turkish commonly refers to the Turkic language of Turkey, to people or things associated with Turkey, and to related cultural practices and identities.

Turkish diaspora: communities, history, and transnational connections Turkish diaspora Overview of Turkish communities living outside Turkey, their history, distribution, social roles, and distinctions between political emigrants and longstanding ethnic Turkish minor…

Turkmen people Turkmen (or Turkomans) are a Turkic-speaking people of Central Asia, concentrated in Turkmenistan and present across the Middle East and Central Asia; known for their language, tri…

Turks in Germany: history, culture, and contemporary life Turks in Germany Comprehensive overview of people of Turkish origin in Germany: migration history, identity, cultural life, integration, socioeconomic trends, and contemporary community issues.