Foundations of Anthropological Theory presents a selection of key texts that reflect the broad range of anthropological thought on human behavior, from Herodotus and Ibn Battuta to Adam Smith and Adam Ferguson.

 Enables the reader to situate the modern discipline of anthropology within the larger context of intellectual history
 Features key texts from the ancient and medieval worlds through to the Enlightenment
Considers the presumptive rights of Europeans to judge the inherent moral worth of non-Western civilizations
Provides fascinating insights into the ways historians, philosophers, missionaries, and even writers of fiction have made valuable contributions to modern anthropological inquiry