An introduction is given to projects investigating galaxy evolution quantitatively by spectroscopic observations of very distant galaxies that have weak apparent brightnesses and small sizes as it is feasible with 10m-class telescopes like SALT. Such methods encompass scaling relations like the Tully-Fisher and Fundamental Plane relations that can be utilized to determine the luminosity evolution and mass assembly of galaxies. The stellar populations can be analyzed with respect to age, metallicity, and chemical enrichment by measureing absorption line strengths. Possible effects on galaxy evolution of the environment in rich clusters of galaxies compared to the field are also addressed. For each method, recent applications are presented like the evolution of the TFR determined with 77 field spirals up to z=1, a study of the internal kinematics of distant cluster spirals and a comparison of the stellar populations of ellipticals in the field and in rich clusters at z=0.4.
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