ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology is "the study of humanity, from its evolutionary origins millions of years ago to its current worldwide diversity." (Bonvillian, Cultural Anthropology) While in this corse I've learned about different cultures and ways we can preserve indegenous societies in our beautiful world. Animals and people may never or not go extinct if man preserved and took care of what was around us. Even better if we can't save a race or animal we can record their history and learn more about them and their influence to society and the world. If men in the future explored our records today they would be able to find out a lot about our lifestyles, habits, likes and dislikes, family and friends, and our personalities. Anthropology is one of the only fields that fits around so many other fields. For example: sociology, political science, and psychology. Anthropology is so much and describes our world from our values and beliefs, ideas we have about ourselves and the world, how we express ourselves, and what we make and use.
Ethnographic Study of the Mormon Pioneers
A big part of our life in the Salt Lake Valley is because of the early Mormon Pioneers. Pioneers did a lot of the hard work to make Salt Lake such a great place. They carved out city street plans, agriculture, and irrigation for us today. It's amazing to think of how much these early Saints did. I thought it would be really interesting to learn more about how a Anthropologist doing and ethnographic study would look at these Pioneers. I researched them and found out questions I wish I could ask or know if I would of been doing fieldwork during the trek. I'm really glad I took the time and anthropologists take the time to learn about how different socities and indigneous people surive and relate to the world as a whole.
Mormon Pioneers
An ethnographic study I would like to study occurred in Utah’s history is the Mormon Pioneers. On April 5, 1847, the Mormon Pioneers traveled across the Great Basin using handcarts and wagons pulled by oxen. Pioneers had to choose very few personal belongings to carry with them across the plains. Pioneers travled more than 1,000 miles with limited funds and supplies varying upon each family. The church provided what was needed for families that would be under supply during the journey.
Each family was to bring: “2 to 3 yoke of oxen, 2 milk cows, other livestock, arms and ammunition, 15 lb of iron, pulleys and ropes, fishing gear, farming and mechanical equipment, cooking equipment, and at least 1,000 pounds of lour plus assorted other foodstuffs.” (wikipedia.com) Some families carried too much which stressed the oxen, and provisions had to be made. Families with this problem lost furniture, family china carried across the Atlantic from England, books, and many other possessions. Some families just had pushed handcarts that they pulled across the planes. Family members that were sick or too young had to be pulled by tired their loved ones.
Many struggles went on with weather as well. The Pioneers started late in the season where hardship and disaster were more risky. Many deathes occurred because of cold bitter weather and not enough of certain needed supplies. Families may have buried multiple loved ones while on the journey. Pregnant women may have expereienced giving birth as well on the trek. Lot’s of babies didn’t make it because of the bad weather and no medical care. However, they had faith in God and knew that he knew best and were content through the hard times. Pioneers also sang hymns and prayed to God for strength during times of need.
When the Mormons arrived in the Salk Lake Valley, Brigham Young, stated, “this is the place!” The Pioneers had to make a lot of adjustment to be able to settle in this land. Mormons had to, “create irrigation systems, laid out farms, built houses, churches and schools. Access to water was crucially important.” (Wikipedia.com) Settlers had a hard time finding ways to access water that would be dependable all year long. However, after many years Mormons were able to have streets, towns across Utah, farming, and many years later a temple was made for them to worship in.
It would be very interesting to find out how Piooners got fresh water on their journey. As well if everyone spoke the same language. To fully get an ethnographic study of the Mormon Pioneers one would have to go on the same trek as the Pioneers and with a lot of people. However, I don’t think it would be the same experience in history because there wouldn’t be the same people. People have changed now and would be more impatient and not as willing to rely on God when things are tough. There are many things to consider when one is looking at history and what may or may not change outcomes. It’s facinating to see what an anthropologist may have looked at if one was along with the Pioneers during their trip across the plains.
Each family was to bring: “2 to 3 yoke of oxen, 2 milk cows, other livestock, arms and ammunition, 15 lb of iron, pulleys and ropes, fishing gear, farming and mechanical equipment, cooking equipment, and at least 1,000 pounds of lour plus assorted other foodstuffs.” (wikipedia.com) Some families carried too much which stressed the oxen, and provisions had to be made. Families with this problem lost furniture, family china carried across the Atlantic from England, books, and many other possessions. Some families just had pushed handcarts that they pulled across the planes. Family members that were sick or too young had to be pulled by tired their loved ones.
Many struggles went on with weather as well. The Pioneers started late in the season where hardship and disaster were more risky. Many deathes occurred because of cold bitter weather and not enough of certain needed supplies. Families may have buried multiple loved ones while on the journey. Pregnant women may have expereienced giving birth as well on the trek. Lot’s of babies didn’t make it because of the bad weather and no medical care. However, they had faith in God and knew that he knew best and were content through the hard times. Pioneers also sang hymns and prayed to God for strength during times of need.
When the Mormons arrived in the Salk Lake Valley, Brigham Young, stated, “this is the place!” The Pioneers had to make a lot of adjustment to be able to settle in this land. Mormons had to, “create irrigation systems, laid out farms, built houses, churches and schools. Access to water was crucially important.” (Wikipedia.com) Settlers had a hard time finding ways to access water that would be dependable all year long. However, after many years Mormons were able to have streets, towns across Utah, farming, and many years later a temple was made for them to worship in.
It would be very interesting to find out how Piooners got fresh water on their journey. As well if everyone spoke the same language. To fully get an ethnographic study of the Mormon Pioneers one would have to go on the same trek as the Pioneers and with a lot of people. However, I don’t think it would be the same experience in history because there wouldn’t be the same people. People have changed now and would be more impatient and not as willing to rely on God when things are tough. There are many things to consider when one is looking at history and what may or may not change outcomes. It’s facinating to see what an anthropologist may have looked at if one was along with the Pioneers during their trip across the plains.