Historical particularism (coined by Marvin Harris in 1968)[1] is widely considered the first American anthropological school of thought.
[2] Instead, historical particularism showed that societies could reach the same level of cultural development through different paths.
[2] Boas suggested that diffusion, trade, corresponding environment, and historical accident may create similar cultural traits.
[2] Three traits, as suggested by Boas, are used to explain cultural customs: environmental conditions, psychological factors, and historical connections, history being the most important (hence the school's name).
[2] Critics of historical particularism argue that it is anti-theoretical because it doesn't seek to make universal theories, applicable to all the world's cultures.