The academic study of different ethnic groups, their origins, characteristics, customs, beliefs, and how their cultures compare and interact.
From ethno- (Greek ethnos, 'people, nation') + -logy (Greek logos, 'study, discourse'). The term was coined in French as 'ethnologie' in the 1800s and adopted into English.
Ethnology answers fascinating questions: Why do some cultures value honor-based justice while others focus on rehabilitation? Why do wedding rituals look so different across the globe? It reveals both human diversity and surprising universals.
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