About
Controversial anthropologist and writer who helped developed cultural materialism and environmental determinism. He fused the ideas of Karl Marx and Thomas Malthus, combining an emphasis on production with the impact of demographics on other parts of the system. He identified demographics and production as infrastructure, which he saw as the foundation of culture and social structure. He authored The Rise of Anthropological Theory and Theories of Culture in Postmodern Times.
Before Fame
He attended Columbia University and received his PhD in 1953.
Trivia
In 1957, he embarked upon fieldwork in Mozambique. During his time there he went through a series of personal transformations that led to profound changes in his political and theoretical viewpoints. The Washington Post once described him as a storm center in his field.
Family Life
He was raised by a low-income family in Brooklyn, NY.
Associated With
He was, for a time, heavily influenced by Franz Boas. He would later denounce Boasian ideas.
