UCSP Lesson 4 PDF

FORMATION of CULTURAL, SOCIAL, POLITICAL, and ECONOMIC SYMBOLS MODULE 4 BENCH MARK At the end of this module, I can: Analyze the significance of cultural, social, political, and economic symbols and practices; Explore the significance of human material remains and artefactual...

FORMATION of CULTURAL, SOCIAL, POLITICAL, and ECONOMIC SYMBOLS MODULE 4 BENCH MARK At the end of this module, I can: Analyze the significance of cultural, social, political, and economic symbols and practices; Explore the significance of human material remains and artefactual evidence in interpreting cultural, social, political, and economic processes; and Trace the biological and cultural evolution of early to modern human.  MAKING CONNECTIONS As discussed in the previous module, culture is the way of life and the totality of learned and socially transmitted customs, knowledge, materials, and behaviors. It is important to discuss how society has developed its culture, including the human capacity to evolve and progress over time.  SOCIOBIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION One important field of study is sociobiology, which aims to examine and explain social behavior in terms of evolution. It is both part of sociology and biology; however, it also draws from other fields such as anthropology, psychology, archaeology, and zoology.  THINKING CAPACITY The thinking capacity of humans stems from the development of the brain, which controls and coordinates all other bodily functions. It also allows people to think and feel and to have memories and an identity. It facilitates the different senses such as smelling, tasting, touching, seeing, and hearing. All of these functions are controlled by the various parts of the brain.  SPEAKING CAPACITY Humans are the only species with speaking capacity, or the ability to actually verbalize thoughts, ideas, and views. This capacity is made possible by the vocal tract, which enables humans to speak out what the brain thinks about. As the brain transmits ideas, comprehends sounds, and provides meaning to them, the vocal tract makes the actual sounds.  GRIPPING CAPACITY Gripping capacity is vital for the ability to perform certain tasks that require forceful precision grips. There are two kinds of grips: (1) precision grip, which allowed humans ancestors to pick up things and create various types of tools necessary for survival such as axes and spears, and (2) power grip, which is used for forceful gripping as in throwing and holding a club.  Why is gripping capacity important to human survival? In what ways is it useful?  WALKING or STANDING One of the keyCAPACITY features of human evolution is bipedalism, or the capability to use two feet only to stand and walk. The evolutionary change to the human pelvis and the femurs (leg bone), knees, and feet gave people this unique capacity to stand and walk on two feet as compared to other species. Bipedalism, though, is not exclusive to humans, as such some species of apes are semi-bipedal.  USE YOUR IMAGINATION Imagine if humans were to evolve and have other capacities or skills. What do you think would these be? How would society and culture be affected by these future evolutions? How do you think have society and culture been affected by humans’ biological evolution?  Sociocultural is the idea that human culture has changed over time, Evolution as more people developed various capacities and capabilities to enhance their survival. Human ancestors gradually changed the way they live as they developed into more complex beings and as they developed various beliefs and systems. These changes can be traced to the evolution of human societies from primitive to civilized. The earliest human development Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period characterized by the use of tools primarily developed using stones. Primarily believed to have lasted for around 3.4 million years, it ended around 4 000 to 2 000 BC and is divided into three periods: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and  Paleolithic The word Paleolithic comes from the words Period paleo which means “old” and lithic which means “stone.” So, Paleolithic period literally translates to “old stone age.” The oldest known stone tool industry is known as the Oldowan industry, which started around 2.6 million years ago. Are tools important for human evolution? Is the presence of tools an important determinant for the evolution of humans (or in establishing Mesolithic Period more commonly known as the middle Stone Age, spans roughly around 20 000-5 000 BC. This period is associated with a hunter- gatherer way of life and the development of more sophisticated and fine tools and weapons compared to the previous period. Neolithic Period The new Stone Age or the Neolithic period was a major shift in human sociocultural history. Primarily, the Neolithic period saw the advent of agriculture as the dominant way of life in the societies that lived during that period. This period is projected to be around 10 000 to 4 500 BC. Would you prefer to be a nomad or to settle permanently in a specific area? Why?  What are the key differences between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods? USE YOUR IMAGINATION  How did agriculture change daily life in the Neolithic age?  Sociopolitical As the Neolithic culture became more complex, early Evolution civilizations started to emerge. This emergence gave rise to the sociopolitical evolution, or the process of structural reorganization of society. The demands for food production and complexity of society had increased, and conflict between warring groups necessitated the need to protect society, which in turn necessitated the need for a social structure. Civilizations started to form in response to these various needs. Civilization can be defined in two ways. First, it may refer to societies where large number of people resides in cities. Second, it can refer to the stage of human development that is considered most advanced. In both cases, early civilizations emerged near various bodies of waters, specifically rivers.  … The first early civilization is the Mesopotamian civilization near the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. This area is known as the Fertile Crescent because of its crescent shape usually flooded by the two rivers, which made the land fertile and suitable for agriculture. This civilization, first established in the late Neolithic period, can be found in modern-day Iraq and Syria. The Mesopotamian civilization is called the cradle of civilization because it is generally considered the first true civilization.  … Other civilizations established include the Egyptian civilization near the Nile River, as well as the Indus Valley civilization in India, near the Ganges and Indus rivers. In China, a civilization emerged near the Yang Tze (Yellow) river. There were also independent cities that were established in Mesoamerica such as the Aztec and Inca civilization, as well the Axum civilization and Kerma culture in Africa. These civilizations flourished and succeeded in building complex societies. What do you think was the first civilization that emerged in the Philippines? Characteristics of a Civilization ⮚agricultural innovation/rise of agriculture ⮚diversification of labor ⮚establishment of social stratification ⮚centralized government  Does social stratification still exist today? Why or why not? What is the role of the government today?  What changes in the ancient civilizations still affect the societies of today?  PT The Tabon Cave in Palawan is one of the most well-known archaeological discoveries in the Philippines. You are an archaeologist, and you want to discover more about the Tabonian tool industry. To do this, you will make a collage of various discoveries found in Tabon Cave to help you find clues where to discover additional archaeological sites. Collect pictures of various artifacts found in Tabon Cave and collate them in a slideshow presentation (e.g., PowerPoint or Google Slides). Make sure to add some details or explanations for each as well. Thank You!  References Sprouts. (2021). Sapolsky’s Theory of Evolutionary Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpPWmul6gVs