Intermediate-level introduction to medical anthropology through sociocultural and bioarchaeological approaches to describing health-related ideas and practices in cross-cultural, historical and ecological contexts. Focuses on human illness and religious experiences of disease and the end of life. Considers how suffering, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and care are shaped by: religion and ritual; symbolism and language; age, gender and sexuality; families, social movements, and governments; and the worldwide expansion of biomedical expertise and technologies.