UCSP Module 3: Biological and Cultural Evolution PDF

MODULE 3: BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL EVOLUTION LESSON OBJECTIVES At the end of the module the learner will be able to; ▪ trace the biological and cultural evolution of early to modern humans ▪ construct a concept map that explains and discusses the biological and cultural evolution of m...

MODULE 3: BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL EVOLUTION LESSON OBJECTIVES At the end of the module the learner will be able to; ▪ trace the biological and cultural evolution of early to modern humans ▪ construct a concept map that explains and discusses the biological and cultural evolution of modern humans ▪ appreciate the importance of museums in studying human biocultural and social evolution INTRODUCTION The origins and development of modern humans can be explained through the study of biological and cultural evolution. Since the appearance of the first human like beings about four million years ago until the development of the first modern-looking humans around 100, 000 years ago proved that changes happened to human species. How modern humans evolve? How can artifacts and fossils help us understand the biological and cultural evolution of humans? How do museums help us understand sociocultural evolution? All of these question will be answered in this module. I know you are excited, let’s start by doing this preliminary activity below. PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY Analyze the photo and answer the questions that follow. 17 QUESTIONS: 1. What do you see in the picture? Describe their appearance. 2. What is happening in the photo? 3. What questions does this photograph raise in your mind? Key Terms Evolution – the change in the characteristics of a species over several generations and relies on the process of natural selection Dentition- the arrangement or condition of the teeth in a particular species or individual. Progeny- a descendant or the descendants of a person, animal, or plant; offspring. Bipedal- using only two legs for walking. Genus-plural genera – a biological classification ranking between family and species, consisting of structurally or phylogenetically related species or a single isolated species exhibiting unusual differentiation (monotypic genus). The genus name is the first word of a binomial scientific name (the species name is the second word) and is always capitalized. LESSON 1.1 Biological and cultural evolution Biological Evolution – Refers to the changes, modifications, and variations in the genetics and inherited traits of biological populations from one generation to another. In studying biological evolution, scientists study the changes in physical body of humans, the changes in the shape and size of their bones, brain, dentition, and fingers. Included in the study of biological evolution are the changes in posture, movement, and the development of the bipedalism or walking on two feet in an upright position. Cultural Evolution/ Sociocultural Evolution – Refers to the changes or development in cultures from a simple form to a complex form of human culture. Sociocultural evolution happens as a result of human adaptation to different factors like climatic changes and population increase. Scientists study the cultural evolution of humans by analyzing the changes in human’s way of life reflected in the different tools and other human-made objects that they have used. Biological evolution is based on theory of evolution that was introduced by the famous English naturalist and geologist Charles Darwin. 18  Darwinism is a theory of biological evolution developed by the English naturalist Charles Darwin (1809– 1882) and others, stating that all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small, inherited variations that increase the individual's ability to compete, survive, and reproduce. According to Darwin, the environment favors certain organisms and organisms that survive can pass on their traits. Natural selection has three important principles: Variation, heritability and reproductive success. Darwin’s natural selection hypothesized that: 1. Every species is made up of variety of individuals wherein some are better adapted to their environments compared to others. 2. Organisms produce progeny with different sets of traits that can be inherited. 3. Organisms that have traits most suitable to their environment will survive and transfer these variations to their offspring in subsequent generations. FROM HOMINIDS TO HOMO SAPIENS SAPIENS Hominid - is the general term used by scientists to categorize the group of early humans and other humanlike creatures that can walk erect during the prehistoric times. HOMINID Sahelanthropus Ardipithecus Australopithecus Homo The Sahelanthropus, Ardipithecus, and Australopithecus had both apelike and humanlike characteristics while Homo had the biological and cultural characteristics of modern human. The Australopithecus, together with Sahelanthropus and Ardipithecus are considered as the pre- human stage of evolution, while the Homo is part of the human stage of evolution. Fossils of the Sahelanthropus, Australopithecus, and Ardipithecus were all excavated in the African continent. 19  Based on the fossil evidences, the first hominid came from the lineage of Sahalenthropus tchadensis species ( 6-7 million years ago).It had both apelike and humanlike characteristics: skull similar to Australopithecus and modern human, height almost similar with chimpanzee; brain size about 320-380 cubic cm, small teeth; had the ability to walk upright. After the Sahalenthropus tchadensis came the Ardipithecus family , which had two species , namely Ardipithecus kadabba( 5.6 million years ago ) and Ardipithecus ramidus ( 4.4 milion years ago) Characteristics: height about 4ft, weight about 120 pounds, skull size similar to an ape, small brain,biped ( walkes on two legs or feet and lived in jungles and forests like the chimpanzees. The Australopthecus or “southern ape” was the next group of hominids. They live in the African jungle from 5 million to 1 million years ago.Characteriscs: Brain size 500 cubic cm almost 1/3 of the size of the modern human brain, upright, biped, tool users only and not tool makers, used sticks and stones for digging, lived in small social groups, distance of movement was estimated to be 15 kilometers or more to search for stones to be used as tools, food scavengers, ate insects, eggs, plants, friuts, and sometimes meat. The Australopithecus disappeared in the evolutionary map after almost one million years ago. They were replaced by a more intelligent group of hominids that belonged to a new genu, the Homo. The homo are classified as humans and not human like creatures because they had bigger brains and were bipedal. According to fossil evidences, the homo first lived in Africa bout 2.4 million years ago. The species includes the Homo habilis ( handy man), Homo erectus (upright man), and the Homo sapiens (wise man ). THE HOMO SPECIES Homo habilis- known as 'handyman' is a species of the genusHomo which lived from approximately 2.33 to 1.4 million years ago, during the Gelasian Pleistocene period. The discovery and description of this species are credited to both Mary and Louis Leakey, who discovered the fossils in Tanzania between 1962 and 1964. Homo habilis was the direct ancestor of modern human because of its ability to produce tools. Homo habilis had the following characteristics: 1. Height of about 3 to 4 feet 2. Brain size half of the modern human (700 cubic cm) 20 3. Made tools called Oldowan(name came from the place where they were found, in Oduvai Gorge, Tanzania) which were uses as cutting tools and made from volcanic stones 4. Used tools for hunting and food gathering Homo erectus - after Homo habilis came, the Homo erectus who was also upright and estimated to have lived from 1.8 million to 300, 000 years ago. Homo erectus had the following characteristics: 1. Brain size of 1000 cc or about 2/3 of the human brain size 2. Height of about five feet 3. Walks upright ❖ In terms of cultural development homo erectus is believed to be more intelligent and more adaptable compared to the Homo habilis. They are also famous for making complex tools used for digging, cutting, and scrapping.. They are also famous of using hand axe tools for slicing, chopping, and digging. ❖ Based on artifacts, Homo erectus was the first Homo species to use fires and to live caves and small houses made of tree branches. Fire help them to cook food and meat. ❖ It was believed that homo erectus was the first Homo to use spoken language, because of this they controlled their environment,exchanged ideas with each other, planned cooperative hunting, and helped others in doing different activities. Homo erectus was able to give names to different objects, places, animals , and plants. ❖ They were also able to develop different religious rituals particulary burial practices. ❖ They are also regarded as the first homo to live and survive in Asia( Java man- Fossil found in Trinil, Java Indonesia , 1811 and Peking man in Zhoukoudian, China, 1920) Homo sapiens– After Homo erectus came, the Homo sapiens (thinking man) who separated into two types: 1) Homo sapiens neanderthelensis They had a brain size larger than modern man and were gigantic in size. Also, they had a large head and jaw and were very powerful and muscular. They were carnivores and the tools from the era indicate they were hunters. They were also caving dwellers but their caves were more comfortable and they lived in groups and hunted for food gathering. 2) Homo sapiens sapiens (wise man) Also known as ‘modern-day man’ is what we are today. Compared to the Homo sapiens neanderthelensis, they became smaller in size and the brain size reduced to 1300cc. There was also a reduction in the size of the jaw, rounding of the skull and chin. Cro- Magnon was the earliest of the Homo sapiens. They spread wider from Europe, Australia, and the Americas. They were omnivores, had skillful hands, developed the power of thinking, producing art, more sophisticated tools and sentiments. Homo sapiens lived in shelters, learned to gather and cook shellfish (164,000 years ago), used fire and crafted metals. They were able to make different stone tools that include fishing tools ( fish hooks), harpoons, bows and arrows, spear throwers snd sweing needles. 21  They have more developed oral language because they have larger brain compare to homo erectus. Homo Habilis Homo erectus Homo sapiens neanderthelensis Homo sapiens sapiens Evolution is not a thing of the past and is continuing even now. Humans are undergoing ‘natural selection’ for many different traits based on their life and environment in the present. In this modern day, it is very important to look back in our biocultural evolution to appreciate the distinct characteristics of our human ancestors. Checked by: SPJ 09-25-20 Good Job! You’ve already finished this module. Please do your worksheet and submit it on the scheduled date. Enjoy Studying and God bless you all. Checked:mpbsayson-02192021 22 23