Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Human Variation and Adaption



Zulu 

Environment Adaption:




South Africa enjoys five main climatic zones. This southern hemisphere country enjoys a typical desert climate on its western coast along the Atlantic Ocean and a Mediterranean climate in the Western Cape and parts of the Garden Route. warm summers and icy winters, The summer season between October and April is warm and rainy, while the winter between June and August is relatively cold and dry. Temperatures are moderate, climate change effected on physical and mental activities and on the  culture of the zulu tribes.




Physical Adaption:



Zulu tribes had a dark skin and color, which really helped them to deal with the failed work since dark skin is more acceptable to the sun the light skin, also prevented population from diseases effected by the sun.   


Cultural adaption :


one example of zulu's cultural adaption are  Beads which re  a very important part of modern Zulu Culture, In Africa there are many tribes known for their elaborate and impressive beadwork, but the Zulus take first place due to their love of them. Beadwork is a craft passed on from generation to generation from mother to child. Zulus design their beadwork in wonderful geometrical patterns and designs, which one could be forgiven for thinking they were made using mathematics and geometry. Bracelets, headbands, necklaces and embroidered miniskirts are decorated with beads, but they also fulfill another purpose, they convey messages. 





Race of zulu:





I would classify zulu as an African race, since Its known that zulu is originally from south Africa.



Andean Indian 


Environment Adaption:



Their climate is cold at night the year around. While during the winter the snow is deep in the high mountains, there is very little on the plateau, since Peru is near the equator extending from 5 to 16 degrees south latitude. The sunshine is bright and warm even in winter. Consequently they have pasturage for their animals the year around.



Physical adaption :




This comparison test showed a physical adaption american Indians had: 
The morphological characteristics of hair-roots from 15 children with classical marasmus were compared with those in 13 normal children of the same age and ethnic group. In addition to the morphological changes found in marasmus, there was a striking shift to the telogen (resting) phase of hair-growth. This difference in hair-root adaptation between marasmus and kwashiorkor is believed to be more closely related to relative chronicity than to differences in dietary protein-calorie density.




Cultural Adaption :


By the time the first European explorers arrived, the native people of the Americas had developed complex medical systems complete with diagnosis and treatment of physical as well as spiritual illnesses. Indigenous peoples derived medicines and poisons from thousands of plants such as :A MEDICINE FOR MALARIA,THE WONDERS OF THE COCA PLANT,FROM DART POISON TO MUSCLE RELAXANT,TREATMENT FOR AN EYE DISEASE.








Race:


 Although its hard to address where native american originally come from but as some article  try to account fro what  is called Metissafe, between the two races (conquerors and vanquishes) , and thats what explain why Andean indians have lost their identity , despite centuries od Hispanic Influence. the race have mixed biologically but not culturally.




Summary: Adaption vs. Race



I can classify African from their skin color (very dark color) , which make them different than the Andean Indians which have a lighter color from what  have read, here we have a physical adaption included . but that doesn’t mean we can classify races only from their physical appearance because there could be an American Indian who is dark. So best way is to search and read a lot about each culture, their environmental, , cultural tradition and even their food are the key for anthropologist to be successful at categorize the population.





References :


vhttp://www.drakensberg-tourism.com/zulu-culture-traditions.html
http://www.andeanawakening.com/andean-culture.htm
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(69)90936-2/abstract



1 comment:

  1. First of all, I love that first image!

    Good job on the physical adaptation for the Zulu and the cultural adaptation for the Andean Indians.

    How does the beadwork help the Zulu adapt to the heat or the high solar radiation?

    The condition you identify as a physical adaptation of the Andeans is actually a pathology due to dietary issues. It is not something that helps the Andeans live in their environment. It is evidence of when they are having trouble maintaining homeostasis.

    Is "African" a race? Is there one definition of African that would apply to all Africans in general?

    Good discussion in your summary.

    ReplyDelete