Lewis Henry Morgan represents which evolutionary school and among which Native American tribe he did his fieldwork?

1. Introduction

In this comprehensive solution, we will explore the contributions of Lewis Henry Morgan, focusing on his affiliation with an evolutionary school of thought and his fieldwork among a Native American tribe. Through detailed analysis, we will elucidate Morgan's impact on anthropology and his pioneering studies in cultural evolution.

2. Evolutionary School of Thought

Lewis Henry Morgan is closely associated with the evolutionist school of anthropology, which emerged during the 19th century. Evolutionism sought to understand human societies by tracing their development through successive stages of cultural evolution. Morgan, along with other prominent scholars such as Edward Tylor, Herbert Spencer, and Auguste Comte, contributed to the development of evolutionary theory in anthropology.

3. Unilineal Cultural Evolution

Morgan is best known for his theory of unilineal cultural evolution, which posits that all human societies progress through a series of predetermined stages of cultural development. According to Morgan, these stages include savagery, barbarism, and civilization, each characterized by distinct technological, social, and political advancements.

4. Fieldwork Among Native American Tribes

Morgan conducted extensive fieldwork among Native American tribes, particularly the Iroquois Confederacy, which consisted of six Native American nations: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora. Morgan's immersion in Iroquois society provided him with firsthand experience and valuable ethnographic data that informed his anthropological theories.

5. Iroquois Kinship and Social Organization

One of Morgan's most significant contributions to anthropology was his study of Iroquois kinship and social organization. In his seminal work "Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Family" (1871), Morgan presented a comprehensive analysis of kinship terminology and kinship systems among various societies, including the Iroquois.

6. Kinship Terminology

Morgan's analysis of Iroquois kinship terminology revealed patterns of descent, inheritance, and social organization within the tribe. He classified kinship systems into two main types: descriptive and classificatory. Descriptive systems, like those found among the Iroquois, employ distinct terms for different relatives based on their relationship to the ego (the reference point). Classificatory systems, in contrast, use a smaller set of terms that encompass multiple relatives.

7. The Iroquois Kinship System

Through his study of the Iroquois kinship system, Morgan identified the principle of "classificatory sibling terminology," wherein individuals from the same generation are classified as siblings regardless of biological lineage. This system reflects the importance of kinship ties and reciprocal obligations within Iroquois society.

8. Morgan's Influence on Anthropology

Lewis Henry Morgan's contributions to anthropology extended beyond his studies of the Iroquois. His work laid the groundwork for modern kinship studies, social organization, and cultural evolution. Morgan's theories and methodologies influenced subsequent generations of anthropologists, including Franz Boas, Bronisław Malinowski, and Claude Lévi-Strauss, who built upon his ideas and methodologies.

9. Criticisms and Revisions

While Morgan's work made significant contributions to the field of anthropology, it has also faced criticism and revision over time. Critics have pointed out the Eurocentric biases inherent in Morgan's evolutionary framework and his tendency to generalize based on limited data. Additionally, his depiction of Indigenous societies as primitive or backward has been challenged by contemporary scholars who emphasize the complexity and resilience of Indigenous cultures.

Conclusion

Lewis Henry Morgan, an influential figure in the evolutionist school of anthropology, made significant contributions to the study of cultural evolution and kinship systems. Through his fieldwork among the Iroquois and his theoretical insights, Morgan advanced our understanding of human societies and laid the foundation for modern anthropology. His work continues to shape scholarly discourse and inspire further research in the field of anthropology.