04-19-2004, 06:54 PM
Quote:</em></strong><hr>Does anyone still study the Binfordist (among others) General Systems Theory approach anymore? This is where cultural model are abstracted as a system of Ideology, Social Structure and Economy in relationship with environmental factors; i.e. The Roman culture model would be an adaption of a stable system to a set of socio-environmental factors. "Right" and "wrong" are emic perceptions. <hr><br>
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Erm...not as part of modern history, at least not in the Netherlands (this may have changed as during the last couple of years Dutch universities have adopted the American model).<br>
But above is still part of Marvin Harris' standard textbook "People, Culture, Nature", so I suppose it's still taught in US universities. I have to say that in my slowly but steadily growing library on early state and late prehistoric societies the archaeologists' and historians' use of anthropological theory seems to be rather eclectic. In other words, they use / adapt what fits the evidence and / or their own ideas, rather than just adopt theories from cultural anthropology wholesale. Nothing on the Roman Empire, alas.<br>
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And by all means, go for that Ph. D.! The 3rd century needs more attention! <p></p><i></i>
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Erm...not as part of modern history, at least not in the Netherlands (this may have changed as during the last couple of years Dutch universities have adopted the American model).<br>
But above is still part of Marvin Harris' standard textbook "People, Culture, Nature", so I suppose it's still taught in US universities. I have to say that in my slowly but steadily growing library on early state and late prehistoric societies the archaeologists' and historians' use of anthropological theory seems to be rather eclectic. In other words, they use / adapt what fits the evidence and / or their own ideas, rather than just adopt theories from cultural anthropology wholesale. Nothing on the Roman Empire, alas.<br>
<br>
And by all means, go for that Ph. D.! The 3rd century needs more attention! <p></p><i></i>
Andreas Baede
