Final answer:
E.B. Tylor proposed an evolutionary scheme of cultural development, which was an early contribution to anthropology. His three-stage model went from 'savagery' to 'barbarism' to 'civilization', and his work stimulated further development of theories in cultural evolution, despite later criticisms and the evolution of anthropological thought.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contributions of E.B. Tylor to Anthropology
Edward Burnett Tylor, a British anthropologist, made significant contributions to the field of early anthropology by proposing an evolutionary scheme of cultural development. In his seminal work, "Primitive Culture" (1873), Tylor posited that cultures progress through three stages: 'savagery', 'barbarism', and 'civilization'. This framework, though reflective of a then-common ethnocentric perspective, laid the groundwork for understanding cultural evolution. However, it was considered unilineal and hypothetical since it was largely based on conjecture rather than empirical evidence.
Anthropologists such as Lewis Henry Morgan further developed Tylor's theories, focusing on technology as a driver of cultural evolution. However, the unilineal perspective was eventually contested by Franz Boas, who argued for a model of cultural change that recognized the unique historical trajectories of different cultures and their intercultural interactions. Boas's students continued to develop this field in various directions, ultimately impacting modern anthropology.
Despite the criticisms of Tylor's unilineal model, his work remains an important reference point in the study of cultural development and the history of anthropological thought.