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Stages of Human Evolution

There were two main factors that drove human evolution: biological evolution through genetic variation and cultural evolution through the development of customs and languages. Over millions of years, hominin ancestors evolved from tree-dwelling apes to early humans who used tools and fire. Key developments included walking upright, increasing brain size, using complex tools, and the emergence of modern Homo sapiens.

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401 views

Stages of Human Evolution

There were two main factors that drove human evolution: biological evolution through genetic variation and cultural evolution through the development of customs and languages. Over millions of years, hominin ancestors evolved from tree-dwelling apes to early humans who used tools and fire. Key developments included walking upright, increasing brain size, using complex tools, and the emergence of modern Homo sapiens.

Uploaded by

Harley Adanza
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Stages of Human Evolution

There are two main areas of change that have significantly affected the human populations over time,
resulting in the transformation our hominin ancestors into modern humans.

These two factors are all interrelated; a change to one may cause a change in another:

1. Biological Evolution

Biological (or genetic) evolution occurs through genetic variation and reproduction, and
involves the transfer of genes from one generation to the next.

2. Cultural Evolution

Cultural evolution occurs through the development of customs and languages, and
involves the transfer of information either within a generation or across many
generations

Lower Pala Eolithic period or Stone Age – around 2.5 to 2 million years ago, there are evidence of human
culture such as musical instruments, cave paintings and burial practices, can be seen.

Hominin Evolution – includes all species which have evolved since the human lineage split off from the
one that gave rise to the great apes.

Two Distinct Populations of Hominin Sub-Family

These two populations, split apart because of a simultaneous global cooling and drying tend created a
climate change around 8 million years ago:

 Modern chimpanzees (genus = Pan) – remained in the wet rainforests of Western Africa.
 Modern humans (genus = Homo) – adapted to the increasingly open, dry habitats of east and
north central Africa.

Multiregional Hypothesis

According to this theory, early hominins (Homo erectus) expanded to Eurasia roughly 1 million
years ago.

Out of Africa Model

The ‘Out of Africa’ model also suggests that Homo erectus migrated to Eurasia approximately 1
million years ago.

Characteristics of Hominin Fossils


1. More downward facing foramen magnum
2. S-shaped curvature of the spine
3. Lower and broader pelvis
4. Change in relative lengths of arm and leg bones
5. Increased size of heel bone and alignment of big toe
6. Flatter faces, with reduced brow ridges and jaw protrusion
7. Larger cranial capacity with increased brain size and greater encephalisation
8. Smaller teeth and jaws more V-shaped
9. Marked reduction in body hair
10. Shift in muscle groups

Tracing Human Evolution


1. Dryopithecus

 Dryopithecus means oak wood apes.


 Densely forested tropocal lowlands and the members might have been predominantly
herbivorous.

2. Ramapithecus

 Discovered from Shivalik hills in punjab.


 This creature ived about 14-8 M.Y.A. (Million Years Ago).
 Region they lived was not merely forest but in open grassland.
 A hominid status for the is claimed on two grounds, a small ape-like creature.
 Probably walked upright.

3. Australopithecus

 This genus is the immediate forerunner of the genus Homo.


 Raymond Dart (1924)
 Australopithecus Africanus - most famous discoveries among findings: (ramidus, afarensis,
robustus, boisei).
 They walked erect, lived on the ground and probably used stones as weapons.
 Lived in communal existence and used fire.

4. Homo- habilis

 Homo means MAN; Habilis means ABLE.


 "Handy man" because it made tools.
 It's face is still primitive.
 It's brain, one falf the size of the modern human and more sophisticated with rudimentary
speech.
 Generally accepted as earliest member of genus Homo.
 Built first shelters.

5. Homo erectus
 Eugene Dubois (Java, 1891)
 Pithecanthropus erectus meaning "erect ape man" said to be the missing link.
 Peking man (China) and Java man
 Cave-dwellers
 The Acheulean tool tradition is associated with the Homo Erectus way of life.

6. Homo Sapiens or Neanderthalensis

Two Sub Species of Homo Sapiens

1. Homo sapien Neanderthalensis - the primitive man (thinking/wise man).


2. Homo Sapiens Sapiens - the modern man.
 It has a high forehead and encasing a large brain, lower jaw chin.
 Neanderthalensis capable of big games hunting (elephants and rhino).

7. Homo Sapiens Sapiens

 Homo sapiens sapiens (wise, wise or thinking, thinking meaning the very wise or thinking man).
 Hunting and gathering seem to have been the primary methods of food gathering.
 They are excellent hunter
 Made sophisticated weapons and ability to control over environment.

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