Cultural Change

This program explores the impact of culture change on various indigenous people and cultures. It describes the various ways culture changes, specifically through innovation, diffusion, and colonialism. The student is introduced to several anthropologists who have studied the effects of culture change on various groups. The dramatic effect of modern agricultural techniques on the traditional horticultural economy of Mali illustrates some consequences of poor planning. The program uses the struggles of the !Kung in Africa to illustrate the idea of culture loss. Here, conservation and modernization have had a serious impact on the native populations of people and wildlife. In the northern regions of the Brazilian Amazon, the program shows that mining has had a tremendous influence on the native Yanomamo Indians. Finally, some of the positive effects of modern technology and culture change are discussed through a look at the Mayan Indians of Mexico.