Bastian, Adolf, 1826-1905, German anthropologist. Often called the father of ethnography, he recorded his observations of peoples and cultures in Der Mensch in der Geschichte [man in history] (1860). His concept of "elemental ideas" as common to mankind but varying in form according to "folk ideas" of a given area foreshadows the kulturkreis of Wilhelm Schmidt. His influence was transmitted through the works of Franz Boas and others. Bastian's important studies appeared in the Zeitschrift für Ethnologie, which he helped to found and edit, and in Ethnologische Forschungen (1871-73).

Bastian, as a surname, may refer to:

• Adolf Bastian
• Ali Bastian
• Bruce Bastian
• Fritz Bastian
• Gert Bastian
• Henry Charlton Bastian
• Mary Bastian
• Noah Bastian

Andrea Bastian

See also

• Bastian Schweinsteiger
• Bastian Balthazar Bux, fictional character
• Bas Bron, a producer and musician using the moniker Bastian.
• Bastian Pastewka, a German comedian