Understanding Culture, Society and Politics.pptx

1. THE HUMAN LINEAGE

2. trace the biological and cultural evolution of early to
modern humans UCSP11/12HBSIe-12
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What is biological and cultural evolution of
humans?
Both are based on variation,
heredity and selection, but how
these appear and work differ.
Biological evolution is
unconscious, opportunistic and
not goal-directed, while cultural
evolution is conscious, at best
planned, and can have a goal.

4. 1. Hominin Ancestors
(6-7 Million Years Ago):
The earliest ancestors of humans diverged from the common
ancestor we share with chimpanzees. Ardipithecus and
Sahelanthropus are among the earliest known hominins.

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6. 2. Australopithecus (4-2
Million Years Ago):
Australopithecus afarensis, famously represented by "Lucy," is
one of the most well-known species from this period.
These hominins were bipedal, but they had smaller brains and
more ape-like features.

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Overview:
Australopithecus
afarensis is one of
the longest-lived
and best-known
early human
species—
paleoanthropologist
s have uncovered
remains from more
than 300
individuals!

8. 3. Early Homo (2-1.5
Million Years Ago):
● Homo habilis is considered one of the first members of our
genus.
● Stone tools, such as the Oldowan tools, were developed
during this period, indicating an improvement in hunting
and food processing.

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This species of human that
lived more than 1.4 million
years ago earned the
nickname the ''Handy Man''
because it is thought that
they were some of the first
humans to make and use
stone tools. Their brains
were bigger than early
humans, and they were short
ape-like humans with long
arms, small teeth, and jutting
jaws.

10. 4. Homo erectus (1.9 Million
to 140,000 Years Ago):
● Homo erectus had a more advanced stone tool culture
known as the Acheulean, which included handaxes.
● They were the first hominins to migrate out of Africa,
spreading into Asia and parts of Europe.

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It was the first of our
relatives to have
human-like body
proportions, with
shorter arms and
longer legs relative to
its torso. It was also
the first known
hominin to migrate
out of Africa, and
possibly the first to
cook food.

12. 5. Homo sapiens (500,000 to
200,000 Years Ago):
● This period saw the emergence of Neanderthals (Homo
neanderthalensis) in Europe and other archaic humans in
Africa and Asia.
● These hominins had larger brains than Homo erectus and
likely engaged in more complex social behaviors.

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Archaic Homo are
distinguished from
anatomically modern
humans by the
characteristics of a
thick skull, prominent
supraorbital ridges
(brow ridges), and lack
of a prominent chin.

14. 6. Modern Homo sapiens (Around
200,000 Years Ago - Present):
● Homo sapiens, or anatomically modern humans, emerged in
Africa.
● They had a fully developed language, advanced toolmaking (the
Upper Paleolithic revolution), and art (cave paintings and
sculptures).
● Around 70,000 years ago, modern humans began migrating out
of Africa, eventually populating the entire globe.
● The Neanderthals and other archaic humans gradually went
extinct, leaving Homo sapiens as the sole surviving species of the
genus Homo.

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Cultural Evolution:
● The cultural evolution of early humans was marked by
the development of increasingly sophisticated tools,
including blades, spears, and bows and arrows.
● Fire was controlled and used for cooking, warmth, and
protection.
● Social structures evolved, with early humans living in
small groups or bands.

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Cultural Evolution:
● Agriculture, which marked the Neolithic Revolution around
10,000 years ago, led to settled communities, surplus food
production, and the development of complex societies.
● Over time, humans developed systems of writing, which
allowed for the recording and transmission of
knowledge, further advancing culture and civilization.
● Artistic expression and symbolic thinking became
evident in cave art, jewelry, and burial practices.

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20. 1. Cultural Significance:
✣ Technology and
Innovation:
✣ Art and Symbolism:
✣ Language and
Communication:
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21. 2. Social Significance:
✣ Social Structure:
✣ Trade and Interaction:
✣ Domestic Life:
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22. 3. Political Significance:
✣ Monuments and
Architecture:
✣ Inscriptions and Seals:
✣ Legal Systems
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23. 4. Economic Significance:
✣ Trade and Commerce:
✣ Agriculture and Food
Production:
✣ Industrial and Craft
Activities
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