Final answer:
The beginning of Ethnology arose from early anthropologists' interest in comparing Indigenous societies to understand migration patterns and cultural relationships. Lewis Henry Morgan's armchair anthropology was later challenged by Franz Boas's approach of direct ethnographic research. Contemporary ethnology now seeks to understand cultures without ethnocentric bias.
Step-by-step explanation:
The beginning of Ethnology can be traced to the increasing interest of early anthropologists in the similarities and differences between various Indigenous societies. The aim was initially to understand the relationships among different groups, particularly in terms of language dialects, migration patterns, and cultural elements. This research led to the establishment of ethnology as a distinct branch of anthropology, focusing on the cross-cultural comparison of different groups.
Anthropologists such as Lewis Henry Morgan participated in what was known as armchair anthropology, formulating theories about human societies based on secondhand reports without extensive fieldwork. However, the practice evolved under the influence of figures like Franz Boas, who championed direct ethnographic research. Boas's approach reshaped the field and placed an emphasis on gathering data directly from the cultural groups in question.
Today, ethnology remains integral to understanding cultural evolution and relationships, although methodologies have significantly improved to reject the ethnocentric and evolutionary perspectives that characterized the 19th century. Instead of viewing societies as progressing through stages from 'savagery' to 'civilization', contemporary anthropologists seek to understand cultures on their own terms, recognizing ethnocentrism and aiming to minimize bias.