Evolutionary anthropology is the study of human evolution from an anthropological perspective. It focuses on how the evolutionary process has shaped human physical and psychological traits, as well as cultural and social behaviors.
The field of evolutionary anthropology arose in the late 19th century, when Darwinian theory was applied to the study of humans. The first prominent figure in the field was Ernst Haeckel, a German biologist who proposed that humans had evolved from a lower form of life. This idea was met with resistance from many scientists, who argued that there was no evidence for it.
Despite this opposition, Haeckel’s ideas gained traction in the early 20th century, as more evidence for human evolution began to accumulate. In particular, the discovery of fossils such as Neanderthals led to a greater acceptance of evolution among anthropologists. By the mid-20th century, most anthropologists had come to accept that humans had evolved from earlier primates.
Today, evolutionary anthropology is one of the most active fields within anthropology. Researchers in this field use a variety of methods to study human evolution, including fossil analysis, DNA studies, and behavioral observations. Evolutionary anthropologists are also interested in understanding how different cultures have responded to evolutionary processes.