Includes bibliographical references and index.

Anthropology --Knowledges -- Humans as a biological species -- Primates -- Human evolution -- Human variation -- Human history through archaeology -- Human history in our epoch : the Holocene photo gallery -- Communicating -- Cultural ecology -- Economics -- Regulating societies : power and types of societies -- Regulating societies : law and kinship -- Law and kinship -- Twenty-first century anthropology.

"Humans is a concise, jargon-free introduction to four-field anthropology. The book outlines and breaks down a complex discipline to identify some of the most important and relevant questions in anthropology. It provides students with an understanding of the unity of the human species, the adaptation of societies to their environments (physical and political), and an appreciation of the power of socialization into a culture. The author team ensures that the book takes a balanced approach to all four fields, covering topics such as: cultural relativism, humans as a biological species, primates, communicating, economics and religion. Pedagogical features include a study guide and notes for instructors. This second edition is fully updated with brand new material on evolution, genetics, and archaeology to reflect the latest research and recent changes in the field. This book is an ideal introduction for students embarking on an anthropology course for the first time"--