Africa The Cradle Of Mankind

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
Africa Humanity EENI The Global Business School 1/13
____________________________________________________________________________
International Business EENI www.reingex.com
The leadership of Africa in
the history of humanity
www.reingex.com

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
____________________________________________________________________________
Learning Unit: The leadership of Africa in the history of humanity. Syllabus
1. Africa: The Cradle of Mankind.
2. From Pro-Consul to Homo Sapiens
1. The first African revolution: the first hominid (Proconsul)
2. The second African revolution: the Genus Homo
3. The third African revolution (and fundamental): the Homo Sapiens
1. The colonization of the world by the Homo Sapiens.
3. Conclusions
Autor: Pedro Nonell.
"Africa: The cradle ... and the future of humanity"

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
____________________________________________________________________________
Introduction. Africa: The Cradle of Mankind
From 6 million years ago, the most important steps, three authentic revolutions of mankind,
have occurred in Africa to become who we are, the Homo sapiens. Only for this reason Africa
should be the protagonist in the history of mankind. Climate change has been a key factor. In
this article is synthesized the long history of our origins and its relationship with Africa.
Important note. The information presented in this article, may not be accepted or may
be can generate discomfort in some readers, perhaps in some Christians or Muslims,
thinking that is not compatible with the Bible or the Koran. In any case, the objective is
not to go against the principles of these or other higher religions, but to show scientific
information that allows us to better understand the fundamental role of Africa in the
history of mankind. If any reader believes that this article goes against their religious
principles, we apologize in advance and humbly suggest that he/she firmly maintains
its religious positions, and to read this information only from a scientific point of view.
A very brief history of the evolution
Homo sapiens, we, the humanity, belong to the group of primates, along with 180 other
species. This does not mean that we descend from current monkey species, but other species
that have disappeared. It is estimated that the separation of the evolutionary line of
Chimpanzee took place between 4.5 and 7 M.Y. (millions of years ago)
Human beings, along with orangutans, gorillas and chimpanzees, are "Hominids (Hominidae)".
This family of primates includes four genera and seven living species. Humans and
anthropomorphic belong to the group of hominoids.
All humans, the current Homo sapiens, has an African origin, like chimpanzees and gorillas.

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
____________________________________________________________________________
The first African revolution: the first hominid (Proconsul)
1. Date: between 24 and 2 M.Y. (Millions of years ago)
2. Place: Africa
According to actual available data, the first hominid, called Proconsul, appeared in Eastern
Africa, in the Great Lakes region, in the Miocene (between 24 and 5 M.Y. ago). Fossils of
Morotopithecus, Afropithecus and Kenyaphitecus (between 23 and 14 M.Y. ago) have been
found in this region.
If one accepts that the earth has an age of 4,540 million years, the period from the emergence
of Proconsul (24 million years ago) to the present is near insignificant. However, this period is
almost inconceivable in human terms.
It is estimated that about 17 M.Y. ago, when the Arabian Peninsula and Africa were united,
these hominoids began the first colonization of the world, expanding by Eurasia, emerging
new genera and species. Almost all of them disappeared between 8 and 7 MY, mainly by geo-
climatic reasons, appearing new species. Fossils of Ardiphitecus Ramidus (4,4 MY) have been
found, probably they walked upright, they were bipedal. From this time is also the
Australopithecus Amarensis (Australopithecus translation would be "the southern ape"), and
we have the certainty that he was bipedal.
About 1 M.Y. later appears the Australopithecus afarensis, the anthropologist Donald
Johanson discovered it in 1974 in Ethiopia. Perhaps the most famous fossil is that of a female
barely a meter of high and 30 Kg of weight, which he named Lucy (3.2 m), the fossils founds
suggest the possible existence of the "first family".
Skeleton and restoration model of Lucy (Australopithecus). Exhibit in the National Museum of
Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan. To the right, Donald Johanson.

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
____________________________________________________________________________
Also, the so-called "footprints of Laetoli" were found, so it's deduced that they walked in a
similar way to us. It is estimated that his intelligence would be the equivalent to a current
chimpanzee.
Afarensis moved toward West Africa. In 1995, the fossils of a new species were found in Chad:
the Australopithecus Bahrelghazali (3 M.Y). In 1924 in South Africa, were found the remains of
a new species: the Australopithecus Africanus (2 and 3 MY)
As we have seen, Africa, in particular Eastern Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania) has been
the main region where this evolution took place. This East African origin has been called the
"East Side Story" by Ives Coppens. This important step to bimetallism, will bring advantages to
the australopithecines: release of hands, access to new ecological niches, stability,
modification of the centre of gravity (saving of energy in movements), higher strength, better
regulation of body temperature (receives less solar radiation)...
About 2.5 M.Y. these hominids were diversified into two evolution lines: the Paranthropus
(characterized by a strong chewing apparatus, disappeared around 1 M.Y. ago) and the first
Homos.
Summary table of the Evolution of Humanity in Africa (Source: Juan Carlos Sastre)

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
Africa Humanity EENI The Glo
_________________________
International Business EENI
The second African re
• Date: about 2 M.Y
• Place: Africa
In 1758, Charles Linnaeus nam
that the oldest remains of this
(Ethiopia), with an antiquity of
Oldowan or mode 1) has been
To carve a stone for a particula
to aid in the production. Thus,
simpler, this increased protein
of energy of the body). We kno
The increase of the brain (doub
was born more unprotected, m
survival. This brain increase, pa
relationships within the group
although not all experts share
Sexual dimorphism (difference
height should be similar to our
Today, the three species accep
1- Homo habilis (1,8 y
He had a brain larger
Australopithecus Africa
1960 by Louis Leackey
2- Homo rudolfensis
Rudolfensis had a brain
apparatus. The only sit
name). They were disc
3- Homo ergaster ("the
Global Business School
___________________________________________
I www.re
n revolution: the genus Homo
Y.
named the human race with the term Homo. Today
this genus are found by Donald Johanson in 1994 at
y of about 2.3 MY. Besides this fossil, several stone t
een found, an indispensable condition of this second
Charles Linneo Stone tool (Oldow
icular purpose, involves planning. It implies also to
hus, they could start cutting, and the access to meat
tein consumption, favored the growth of the brain
know that the brain structure of these homos was s
doubled) difficult births. Women had to be helped. T
d, more and more dependent of his mother and of
e, particularly the cortex, made it possible to develop
oups; the "social intelligence" was born (Dunbar and
are this opinion, also appeared the first forms of lan
nce between the size of the man and woman) was r
ours. Later, these early homos also colonized Eurasi
ccepted of Homo proposed by Bernard Wood are:
,8 y 1.6 M.Y.)
than Australopithecus and has some similarity wit
fricanus. The main site is Olduvai (North of Tanzania
key.
(1,9 y 1,6 M.Y.).
brain larger than Habilis and a more developed mast
ly site is in the Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolph,
discovered by Richard Leackey.
the worker") (1,8 y 1,4 M.Y.)
6/13
_______________
w.reingex.com
day it is accepted
4 at Hadar
ne tools (called
cond revolution.
ldowan)
to have other tools
eat was increasingly
in (consumes 20%
as similar to ours.
d. The newborn
of the group for his
elop better social
r and Aiello). Surely,
f languages.
as reduced. Its
rasia.
with the
ania), discovered in
asticator
lph, and hence the

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
____________________________________________________________________________
The volume of the brain of Homo Ergaster grows significantly, between 800 and 900 cc
(between the chimpanzee and us). Some experts consider to habilis the ancestor of
ergaster. Also it includes Homo Erectus (Asia)
Summary table of the Evolution of Humanity in Africa -2nd part- (Source: Juan Carlos
Sastre).
It also should be noted that other experts do not distinguish between Habilis and Rudolfensis.
As we can see these three species of Homo coexisted in time and space.
Homo Ergaster, has a largest brain than Rudolfensis and Habilis, the molars were reduced, the
nose is more prominent. The most important fossil was discovered again by Richard Leakey in
1984 near the Lake Turkana (Kenya), therefore called the Turkana Boy, it is estimated that he
has 1.5 M.Y. It is the better skeleton found of a hominid; it is estimated that he should
measure 1.60 meters, so it is believed that he would measure 1.80 (adult). Also fossils of Homo
Ergaster were found in Southern Africa.
Homo Ergaster invents a new way to carve the stones; the Acheulean or Mode 2, a much more
advanced industry. Ergaster invents the first bicephalic tools (two-sided): axes, picks ... With
them he can do many new things, perhaps even tanning leather.
Homo ergaster (Source: arqueoeducablog)
Acheulean Mode

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
____________________________________________________________________________
As in the past, the three species disappeared.
As we have seen the first two revolutions, from Proconsul to Homo Ergaster, has been fully
realized in Africa.
Homo erectus - The colonization of Asia.
In 1891, the Dutch physician Eugene Dubois discovered fossils on the island of Java -
Indonesia- (between 1.8 - 1.6 M.Y); in other words, at the same time as Homo Ergaster.
Scholarships have deduced that while both species have common features, they also have
differentiated, and thus they created a new species: Homo Erectus, almost certainly derived
from Homo Ergaster. In China, especially in the cave of Zhoukoudian, near Beijing, also have
been found fossils that have been assigned to Homo Erectus. Homo Erectus had a cranial
capacity between 915 cc and 1225 cc, greater than Homo ergaster.
Homo erectus lived in Asia, until Homo Sapiens arrived and finally also disappeared.
• Homo Antecessor - The Great Dolime
The discoveries of Juan Luis Arsuaga, Eudald Carbonell, Ignacio Martinez and Jose Maria
Bermudez de Castro in the Great Dolime (Spain) in 1997, allowed to speak of a new specie:
Homo antecessor, who "precedes the other," which he lived in Europe about 900,000 or
800,000 years ago. This specie is not Homo Erectus, and probably would be close to Homo
ergaster, but not so. That is, Homo antecessor would be "an evolutionary intermediate
between Homo ergaster and Homo Sapiens." But it was also found which was related to
Neanderthals. His origins are probably Asiatic.
• Homo Heidelbergensis
400,000 years ago a group of Homo Heidelbergensis lefts Africa and goes to Asia and Europe
where evolves to Neanderthals. It is the specie between Neanderthals and Homo antecessor.
The rest of Heidelbergensis which rested in Africa would evolve to Homo Sapiens.
• Neandertales (Homo Neanderthalensis)
We know that Neanderthals lived in Europe from about 230,000 years ago. It was very cold-
adapted specie to the freezing cold of Europe. Neanderthals disappeared about 30,000 years
ago with the arrival of Homo sapiens, but coexisted for some time.
Summary table evolution of humanity (Source: Stringer, 2003)

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
Africa Humanity EENI The Glo
_________________________
International Business EENI
(Source: Stringer, 2003)
In the picture we can observe t
populations; it is a possible fam
leaves two branches: the Asian
(Heidelbergensis and Homo an
heidelbergensis emerge Homo
disappeared except Sapiens.
Global Business School
___________________________________________
I www.re
rve the temporal and geographical distribution of ho
family tree of the genus Homo. From Homo ergaste
sian (Homo Erectus) and the African -and European
o antecessor), from this derive the Neanderthal. Fina
mo sapiens in Africa colonizing the rest of the worl
9/13
_______________
w.reingex.com
f hominid
aster in Africa,
ean-
Finally from
orld. All species

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
____________________________________________________________________________
The third African revolution (and fundamental): Homo Sapiens
Today it is accepted that mankind, each and every one of us, has a common African origin.
We know that due to our homogeneity, we come from a small group of individuals from
Africa, placing our origins between 300,000 and 100,000 years. From this African origin,
Homo Sapiens colonized the entire world. In Asia, he replaced Homo erectus and Neanderthal
in Europe. The first globalization of the history of humanity was realized. Since then Homo
sapiens has not stopped moving.
This hypothesis of a common African origin has been called "Out of Africa". It should be noted
that there is also a multiregional origin hypothesis. But it seems with no doubt the reality of
our African origin.
In 1987 was published a work on the variation of mitochondrial DNA in humans (Cann,
Stoneking and Willson). According to this research, there are two groups regarding the
similarity of mitochondrial DNA, one exclusively of African origin and another of mixed origin.
Thus they estimated that the origin of mankind would be around 200,000 years ago and also,
all would come from the same woman, the "Black Eve (Mitochondrial Eve)".
In 1986, Wainscoat submitted its nuclear DNA studies. Their conclusions were that the entire
humanity comes from six hundred Homo sapiens who lived in Africa 100,000 years ago.
Subsequent studies of chromosomes have also discovered that there was a second migration
from Africa 50,000 years ago and ended up colonizing Asia and Australia. It is estimated that
Sapiens reached the American continent about 17,000 years ago by crossing the Bering Strait.
It has also been found that in this global migration, the woman was who most moved, being
the man most sedentary, indicating a possible patrilocal society (*).
(*) In anthropology, in a patrilocal society man at marriage remains in the parental home
along with his wife.
Summary of the last 6 M.Y.
1- In Africa, about 5 M.Y., the evolutionary line between hominids and chimpanzees is
divided
2- About 4 M.Y.: in Kenya, the hominid Australopithecus anamensis begins bipedalism.
3- About 3 M.Y.: Lucy lived in Africa (Australopithecus afarensis).
4- About 2.5 M.Y.: Existence of several African hominids. First stone tools.
5- About 2 M.Y.: Back in Africa, appears the first HOMO with a growing brain.

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
____________________________________________________________________________
(Source: Berkeley University)
6) 1,5 M.Y.: First axes. Colonization of Asia and Europe. Homo neanderthalensis in
Europe and Homo erectus in Asia.
7) 100,000 years ago: in Africa again appear early Homo sapiens, who coexisted for a
time with Homo Erectus and Neanderthal.
8) 50,000 years ago: first cave paintings and burials. Sapiens begins the colonization of
the world from Africa.
9) 25,000 years ago all Homo species except Homo sapiens have disappeared. Homo
Sapiens is present worldwide.

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
____________________________________________________________________________
Conclusions
As we have seen, Africa has the leading role in the last 6 million of years; all these changes
have taken place in a continent today marginalized. All of us, each one of the 7,000 million of
humans who are living in the five continents, we have a common origin since that 100,000
years ago a small group of African Homo sapiens began colonizing the world.
In African lands will emerge one of the major civilizations of all times, the Egyptian Civilization,
and today we know, thanks to the studies of Cheick Anta Diop, the very strong relationship
between Africa and the Egyptian civilization. Cheick Anta Diop also discussed, among other
issues, the contributions of Africa to humanity.
May be, the first monotheistic conception of the story emerged in Egypt with the figure of
Akhenaton (1,300 BCE).
"Africa has a history. Africa is the cradle of humanity and where the history was born.
That's why every African, every African should be, here and now, an added value. Each
generation has to build pyramids." Joseph Ki -Zerbo
Something that Western historiography has ignored for centuries.
In recent centuries, African Civilization interacts with Islamic and Western civilizations. Two
external religions, first Christianity penetrating North Africa and later Islam, take root in Africa.
Perhaps this is one of the greatest threats facing Africa today: a possible clash of civilizations,
especially in the Sahel.
Africa suffered the greatest scourge of humanity, the slave trade for 400 years; the UNESCO
estimates that between "25 and 30 million of Africans were deported, not counting the
number of dead in the ships, wars and raids". Slave trade will be one of the foundations of the
political and economical domain of the Western civilization.
Africa has experienced the African Diaspora, the colonialism, the independence, the
destruction of many traditional values, the effects of the cold war, bloody civil wars, new
pandemics such as AIDS, the draconian conditions of debt, the marginalization in the
globalization process (today Africa only accounts for 3% of world trade ...)
But Africa's future is optimistic.
The UNICEF recently stated that "the future of humanity is increasingly African". Today,
Africa's population is 1,100 million of people (of a total of 7,000 million), 1.6 billion in 2030
and 4,000 million of Africans in 2100, which will means that within 35 years 25% of humanity
will be African (and 1,000 million of Nigerians).
Population, world regions, 2010-2100

E
E
N
I
E
E
N
I
____________________________________________________________________________
In Africa, It’s emerging a new middle class (350 million of Africans, 34% of the active
population). We have seen the so-called "African mobile revolution"; it is estimated that there
are 650 million of mobile phone’s users. In 2,040, the African Middle class can be 1,100 million
of people (42% of the active population). It is also estimated that in 2,040, half of Africans will
live in a city.
In 2050, the African population will reach 2.4 billion and will continue growing till 4.2 billion—
four times its current size—in the next 100 years.
Beyond the "demographic dividend of Africa" (it is considered that Africa is the largest labor
market in the world thanks to the young population - 60%), the huge natural resources, the
emergence of several African economies (half of the world’s frontier markets are Africans,
Nigeria is the world's largest frontier market and the first African economy, having displaced to
South Africa) and the unstoppable trend towards African integration (the African Continental
Free Trade Area formed by 54 countries, 1,000 million people and a combined GDP of 1.2
trillion USD) led by the African Union, it seems that Africa takes its rightful role in the history
of mankind, taking a new geo-strategic, economic and human status in the global economy.

Africa The Cradle Of Mankind

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Africa The Cradle Of Mankind

Similar to Africa The Cradle Of Mankind (20)

More from Darian Pruitt

More from Darian Pruitt (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Africa The Cradle Of Mankind