Anthropology became a separate academic discipline in the 19th century, particularly during the late 1800s. Its formal establishment as a distinct field is associated with the development of modern anthropology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, influenced by key figures such as Franz Boas and Bronisław Malinowski

. Prior to this, anthropology was often considered part of philosophy, natural history, or ethnology, but it gained distinct recognition through systematic scientific approaches to studying human cultures, societies, and biology.