Natural Environments and cultures

Based on anthropological findings, this course will introduce the cultures of people who live in close contact with the natural environment, including aspects of food culture, sickness and healing, death and ritual, music and dancing, and clothing and adornments. The course will also present the current state of our own culture and consider how we should live and interact with nature in the future.

nature, culture, environmental mindset, anthropology

1. Orientation
2. Nature and humans
3. Natural disasters: Climate change and the SDGs
4. Modern man in anthropological history
5. Eating right
6. The hunter-gatherer way of life
7. Fishing as a way of life
8. Agriculture as a way of life
9. Summary
10. Sickness and healing
11. Death and ritual (I)
12. Death and ritual (II)
13. Music and dance
14. Clothing and adornment
15. Summary; class questionnaire

Syllabus (Japanese site only)