Final answer:
Cultural evolutionism is an approach in anthropology that studies the origins and changes of human cultural forms over time. It is based on the idea that cultures evolve in a similar way to biological species, with simpler forms evolving into more complex forms. This approach has been largely abandoned by modern anthropologists in favor of recognizing the unique historical trajectory of each culture and the constant interaction between cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cultural evolutionism is an approach in anthropology that studies the origins and changes of human cultural forms over time. It is based on the idea that cultures evolve in a similar way to biological species, with simpler forms evolving into more complex forms. Cultural evolutionists, such as Edward Tylor and Lewis Henry Morgan, believed that technology played a crucial role in driving cultural evolution, as new technologies led to new patterns of social practice and thought.
However, this unilineal approach to cultural evolution has been largely abandoned by modern anthropologists. Instead, they recognize that cultures change according to their own unique historical trajectory and evolve in constant interaction with other cultures. Diffusion of material objects, practices, and ideas among cultures is seen as a key factor in cultural change.