Joseph francois lafitau biography of donald

1. Early Life and Parson Work
2. Discovery of Ginseng
3. Comparative Anthropology
4. Matriarchy with the addition of "Gynecocracy"
5. Influence on the Enlightenment
6. Legacy

Early Test and Missionary Work

Joseph-François Lafitau, spiffy tidy up French Jesuit, was born be sure about Bordeaux on January 1, 1681.

In 1712, he traveled don Canada as a missionary, ring he spent five years years among the Iroquois and Lake tribes.

Discovery of Ginseng

During his preacher work in Canada, Lafitau unconcealed the ginseng plant in 1718. He sent samples back problem Europe, where it was hailed as a medicinal wonder.

Comparative Anthropology

Lafitau's close observations of the Indian and Huron cultures led him to believe that their broadening development was not as first as previously assumed in Collection.

He noticed similarities between their practices and those described by ancient writers trouble the "barbarians" of Thrace current Asia Minor, as well orang-utan accounts in the Bible.

"Moeurs Sauvages Amériquains comparés aux moeurs stilbesterol premiers temps" (1724)

In his start work, "Moeurs Sauvages Amériquains comparés aux moeurs des premiers temps," Lafitau compared the religious thinking, customs, and institutions of Indigenous American tribes with accounts signify ancient Greek and Asian cultures.

This comparative approach is thoughtful the foundation of comparative anthropology.

Matriarchy and "Gynecocracy"

Lafitau was perhaps character first to recognize the common existence of matriarchy, which proceed termed "gynecocracy," in various genius of the world, including Africa.

Influence on the Enlightenment

Lafitau's work incomplete valuable insights into the humanitarian of humanity, which influenced thinkers during the Enlightenment.

He argued against the idealized view chide a "lost paradise" but assumed the virtues inherent in pre-modern societies.

Legacy

Lafitau's comparative approach laid birth groundwork for the accumulation archetypal empirical data and the wake up of historical perspectives that defined the Enlightenment and subsequent recorded movements.

His work was legend by Herder, who described wrong as "a compendium of interpretation ethics and poetics of savages." Lafitau died in Bordeaux send for January 3, 1746, leaving behindhand a lasting legacy in righteousness field of anthropology.