Final answer:
Marxism, neo-evolutionism, and cultural ecology are approaches in anthropology and social sciences used to study cultural changes, emphasizing class dynamics, complex cultural evolution, and human-environment interaction respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marxism, neo-evolutionism, and cultural ecology are all considered to be historical or anthropological approaches utilized by social scientists and anthropologists to understand and explain the changes and developments in human cultures over extended periods. Marxism, as an economic and social theory, often analyzes cultural changes through the lens of class struggles and economic systems. Neo-evolutionism, on the other hand, rejects the older notion of cultural evolution as a linear, unidirectional process and instead views cultural change as a complex, multidimensional process that does not follow a single path. Cultural ecology focuses on the relationship between human societies and their environments, emphasizing how cultural practices adapt to make use of available resources and the challenges posed by specific ecological contexts.
These approaches share a common interest in the regular patterns and factors that influence cultural change. Cultural ecology, specifically, was developed by Julian Steward, who proposed that environmental factors are crucial in shaping human cultural adaptation. Marvin Harris's concept of cultural materialism furthers the idea that technology and economic factors are central to cultural development and structure other cultural aspects such as family, religion, and politics. These approaches highlight the evolution of human culture over time, adaptation to environmental conditions, and the economic underpinnings of cultural practices.