Edward Tylor was a British anthropologist, often regarded as the founder of cultural anthropology. Born in 1832, he introduced the concept of culture as a complex whole, encompassing knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, law, customs, and any other capabilities acquired by humans as members of society. His influential work, Primitive Culture, published in 1871, laid the groundwork for the study of cultural evolution. Tylor's ideas emphasized the importance of understanding cultures in their own contexts rather than judging them by Western standards. He also contributed to the study of animism, which he defined as the belief in spiritual beings, marking a significant step in understanding religious practices across different societies.