UCSP Module 4: Looking Back at Human Biocultural and Social Evolution PDF

UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI J. P. Rizal Ext., West Rembo, Makati City HIGHER SCHOOL NG UMAK HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT Course Title...

UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI J. P. Rizal Ext., West Rembo, Makati City HIGHER SCHOOL NG UMAK HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT Course Title Title Module Understanding Culture, 4 LOOKING BACK AT HUMAN BIOCULTURAL AND SOCIAL No. Society, and Politics EVOLUTION Learning Objectives: At the end of the module, the 1. Analyze the significance of cultural, social, political, and economic symbols students are should be able and practices to: I N Scholars have debated long enough about how humanity had developed. Perhaps T Anthropologists themselves knew the gaps that are visible in most of the evidences that were R shown from recent studies. For this reason, this became the source of dissension among scholars. However, the study of humanity had greatly expanded in various aspects. More so O the amount of efforts that were made came out to be handy as it provided valuable pieces of D information that are pertinent in the study of humanity. If we are to evaluate the transition that we U had undertaken, it is filled with so many contestations. Anthropologists tried to unravel so many things about humanity using their findings. However, as they evaluated its applicability to all, it became the grounds for more doubts. Because C many of the outcomes of their study lacked the so-called “persuasive evidence” to prove its validity (Ember, Ember, & T Peregrine, 2014). As a result, reassessment of human development became a prerequisite. Take into consideration, I the assertion that we people originated from apes or primates. Despite scientific explanations that keeps on giving dispute about it, the decision on whether or not we shall believe in it lies on our initiatives. O N Prepared by: Melvin L. Peñafiel Jr., LPT  Theory of Evolution This theory suggests that species could over time, evolve into another. Therefore, they are organisms able to interbreed and produce fertile and viable offspring (Ember, 2014). Park (2013) explained further that past events are those which cannot be experimented or repeated because living organisms are controlled by evolution upon which is reliant with the past. Moreover, this was regarded as the prevailing view during the 19th century. It is supports Charles Darwin’s notion about culture as something that generally develops or evolves in a uniform and progressive manner (Ember, Ember, & Peregrine, 2014). However, recent studies made which insists species have aspects and characteristics such as Behavior and Genetics that brings variation. For this reason, it implies that such term is nil or non-existent (Birx, 2010). Hominid They are considered as the earliest member of the primate families as their fossils were recorded 5.5 million years old. To begin with, they were from chimpanzees and gorillas which makes them part of a family genus known as Hominidae. Moreover, original meaning of the term Hominid was used to describe a modern group known as Hominini or those extinct species closely related to man (Brix, 2010). Their group introduced the concept bipedalism or the use of two feet to stand and walk. Their genus came to known as Australopithecus Afarenesis (Brix, 2010). Moreover, considering the site where the remains are located, they were believed to be forest dwellers that settled in arid areas. Apparently, their body sizes range from 3 to 4 feet tall and weighs around 350 pounds which is the same with an average male gorilla. In addition, they have relative brain size is approximately 30% of a human brain (Brix, 2010). Moreover, it was their physical characteristics like having small canines with flat and thick enamel molars became the point of reference for Anthropologists regarding their existence (Ember, Ember & Peregrine, 2014). Furthermore, they used the tools known as Oldowan which appeared to be versatile and they for dismembering, slitting, making sharp pointed objects to slice tough joints and tree branches (Saluba, Damilig, Carlos, Barlan, & Cuadra, 2016). Lucy: The Humankind Earliest Ancestor A group of Paleoanthropologists led by Dr. Donald C. Johnson discovered skeletal remains believed to have belonged to a group of Hominid species known as Australopithecus Afarenesis at the Hadar site in the Afar Triangle, Ethiopia (Brix, 2010). Their study revealed their group discovered a 40% female hominin skeleton, believed to have existed 2.9 million years ago which they named ‘Lucy’ C from the song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” of the English band Beatles O (Ember, Ember, & Peregrine, 2014). Her discovery was so important because it framed our understanding about the process of evolution (Lewis, Jurmain, & N Kilgore, 2012). T Homo Habilis E They were known to have existed about 1.8 to 1.9 million years ago (Kottak, 2010). N Furthermore, they weighed around 25 to 40 kilograms and the average of their brain was between 630 to 640 cc or 50 percent of the brain capacity of a modern human (Ember, Ember, T & Peregrine, 2014). They were collectively known as the “handy man” or “the skilled human” which refer to the manufacture or use of stone tools (Allen, Anton, & Stanford, 2017). Interestingly, the result of the fossil analysis of a Homo Rudolfensis found on eastern side of Lake Turkana, Kenya, revealed bigger brains which provides a manifestation they can process information (Larsen, 2019). They were believed to have lived in eastern and southern Africa which now occupied by the following nations: Ethiopia, Eastern Congo, Kenya, and South Africa (Brix, 2010). The OH7 and OH62 The first remains were found in 1960 by a group of Archaeologists headed by Mary Leakey at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. It was given a code name OH7 or Olduvai Hominid 7 which has a carbon dating of 1.8 million years old. Interestingly in 1976, their footprints were discovered in Olduvai gorge, Laetoli Area, Tanzania by a group of Archeologists headed by Mary Leakey (Brix, 2010). Homo Erectus The migration from Africa to Eurasia started when this so-called “upright human” which emerged in Africa around 1.8 to 1.9 million years ago (Haviland, Prins, McBride, & Walrath, 2017). Their discovery began in the late nineteenth century after their remains were discovered in Java, Peking, and some parts in North Africa and Europe (Jurmain, 2017). Based from various findings, they have thick, long, and low with flat frontal area skulls, they have small molars, teeth are smaller, weigh around 41 to 65 kilograms and their cranial capacity ranges from 895 to 1,040 cc or 70% of the brain capacity of a modern human (Ember, Ember, & Peregrine, 2014). With the numerous tools that were discovered with their remains, manifest the idea of the expansion of food source from meat to food crops (Kottak, 2010). Evidence of their migration was said to have been found in Dmanisi, Georgia in 1991 which unearthed 5 crania and some postcranial remains along with Oldowan tools that provided a striking similarities with that of those in Africa (Allen, Anton, & Stanford, 2017). Prepared by: Melvin L. Peñafiel Jr., LPT Java Man and the Peking Man In 1891, Dutch paleoanthropologist and geologist, Eugene Dubois found what he called Pithecanthropus erectus or “erect ape man” near Solo River, Trinil, Eastern Java. However, no one including himself was not entirely sure if it was the remains of an ape or man but it was just a skull cap (Lewis, Jurnmain, & Kilgore, 2012). Eventually it was named “Java Man”. On the other hand, Davidson Black and his colleagues found a skull in a large cave near Zhoukoudian and eventually it was named “Peking Man” (Kottak, 2010). Analysis were made and it was revealed that fossils that were both found in Java and Peking share the same stage in Human Evolution (Allen, Anton, & Stanford, 2017). In a nutshell, the discovery of these two remains enabled Anthropologists to come up with an idea about evolutionary significance, that dispersal from Africa to Asia may have begun around 1.6 million years ago and it was able to adapt from temperate or cold to hot or humid environment(Lewis Jurnmain, & Kilgore, 2012). Homo Sapiens They were said to have mixed traits with Homo Erectus because findings that were gathered suggests that most of the remains of Homo Sapiens were found in mixed woodland and savanna areas (Haviland, Prins, McBride, & Walrath, 2017). Their discoveries began in the early twentieth century after their remains were discovered in various regions of Africa, Asia, and Europe (Larsen, 2019). Based on the findings, they believed to have existed around 1.7 to 1.4 million years ago. Furthermore, they weigh around 78 kilograms and their cranial capacity ranges from 900 to 1400 cc somewhat equivalent to the brain size of a modern human. (Ember, Ember, & Peregrine, 2014) Interestingly, Anthropologists found out later in their discoveries the changes such as increase in brain size, reduction of skeletal robusticity, and smaller tooth size (Larsen, 2019). The first- ever excavated remains of a Homo Sapiens was found in Herto, Ethiopia in 1997 and it has a carbon-dating between 160,000 to 154,000 years ago (Jurmain, 2017). The Neanderthals They were considered to have exclusively lived in Europe and some parts of Northern Asia between 25,000 and 150,000 years ago (Brix, 2010). However, they were believed to be a separate entity because of the genetic evidences that were gathered (Lewis, Jurmain, & Kilgore, 2012). Studies about them provides an impression they were deliberately buried as excavated remains have flint tools and broken animal bones (Jurmain, 2017). Moreover, the areas where most of their remains were recovered provided a manifestation they had adapted to humid environment (Jurmain, Kilgore, Trevathan, & Trevathan, 2010). Neolithic Revolution This was the period where humans began to establish permanent settlement by domesticating animals and plants which began the exploitation of non-renewable resources (Jurmain, Kilgore, Trevathan, & Trevathan, 2010). Moreover, it started exactly 11,000 years ago in the Old World and the Americas (Kottak, 2010). Surprisingly, the term was coined by Archaeologist Vere Gordon Childe in 1923 to describe the period known as the Agricultural Revolution. Interestingly, in its literal sense, the meaning of the word “Neolithic” stands for “New Stone Age” which was to refer the techniques of grinding and polishing stone tools but the economic significance was emphasized in the process (Brix, 2010). Although this may be true, anthropologists described the societies during those times as egalitarian where people regardless of family or group, have the same in terms of wealth, prestige, or power (Lewis, Jurmain, & Kilgore, 2012). Early Civilization and the Rise of the State Structuralists believed that studying past societies are important because it is here we get to know how man was able to survive for it is here we get to know about the evolution of ideological and socioeconomic aspects he developed (Brix, 2010). Surprisingly, the transition that every society undertook, became their basis of analysis. By taking into consideration the analysis on socioeconomic activities done in every society, it will provide a point of reference as to how people are oriented towards reality and the changes it manifests makes it more a clear how development was perceived by people (Jurmain, 2017). The Cradles of Civilization The term ‘cradle of civilization’ means it emerged independently. Moreover, it developed along riverbanks which provided water supply for large-scale agriculture that in turn enable them to grow and store food surplus which eventually led to the abandonment of food hunting and gathering (Maisels, 1998). As a result, it led to the creation of hierarchical structure headed by elite class from which leaders are drawn, division of labor and growth of cities. (Haviland, Prins, McBride, & Walrath, 2017). 1. Tigris-Euphrates River Civilization of Mesopotamia or Fertile Crescent - This civilization that started 10,000 years ago which is now part of Modern-day Iraq, was known for its crescent shape like area located between the Tigris and Euphrates river (Haviland, Prins, McBride, & Walrath, 2017). It’s discovery provided manifestations of human civilization development and the massive expansion of trade and commerce as evidenced by the discovery of 3 important cities namely: Ur, Uruk, and Eridu (Brix, 2010). 2. The Nile Valley Civilization of Egypt - The annual flooding of the Nile River made it possible for a civilization in Egypt. Furthermore, they introduced many things such as a centralized form of government, Hieroglyphic writing system and the body preservation for funeral known as the ‘mummification’ (Brix, 2010). Prepared by: Melvin L. Peñafiel Jr., LPT  3. The Yellow River Civilization of China - Yellow silt made it possible for farming, creation of earthen wares and potteries and for fishing activities (Brix, 2010). Not to mention, even in governance they had also embarked with the first ever documented Dynasty known as the Shang Dynasty where hierarchy was its basis for government structure. 4. Indus Valley Civilization of India - Probably the largest of all civilizations yet it was considered as the least explored among the three other civilizations because it was the only civilization to have rose then suddenly perished without any trace that would consolidate its existence (Brix, 2010). It has three cities namely: Harappa, Dholavira, and Mohenjo Daro. Features of Civilization To some extent, the term civilization tends to have so many meanings. Therefore, the need to differentiate it in terms of its settings or context is a must so as not to create any misunderstanding due to generalized point of view of the statement. Cities are highly urbanized societies that has large and complex systems which heavily rely on food surplus for they could not produce their own food. Writing these are written language that enabled people to preserve, organize, and expand their knowledge. It tries to make the life of people easy. Specialization it trains people to be of value such as being a farmer, merchant, teacher, or record keeper to serve their own purpose in exchange for ideas and survival. Government to maintain balance and harmony, one has to give in that will serve as an equalizer and a guide that would enable the people to be organized and at the same time cater the public interest. Religion this provided people a foundation of moral system that will enable them to uphold to some principles that are deemed necessary to maintain civilization. Rise of the Civilization and State 1. Sumerian Civilization- They were known to have developed irrigation system for farming and established a city-state. Moreover, they were known for the writing system known as the cuneiform or the use of wedged-shaped symbols on clay tables that made the existence of records possible (Brix, 2010). 2. Egyptian Civilization- They were known to have introduced the concept known as the “God-King”. This was made possible with the persona of a Pharaoh. Moreover, they were the ones who pioneered the so-called “Hieroglyphic Writing” or using pictures as a form of writing. In addition, they were the ones responsible for the concept of “after-life” memorial monuments (Brix, 2010). 3. Greek Civilization- They were the ones responsible for the emphasis of man as an “independent entity”. In doing so, they removed God as the center of the stage. Also, they had introduced the political ideology which prevails right now which is no other than “Democracy”. This concept was exemplified through the election of officials (Brix, 2010). 4. Roman Civilization- They were known to have embraced the Greek culture. However, what seems to be indispensable is their promulgation of the concept “Republicanism”. Moreover, they also introduced two types of consul upon which represents the social classes in their society: Patricians or the landowners and the Plebeians or the commoners (Brix, 2010). Democracy: An Overview Is a highly contested concept because it has shifting meanings due to the rhetorical needs of the society (Purdue, 2007). The term was derived from a Greek word “Demokratia” which is translated as people’s government. “For this reason, it has always been understood as a government of the people and by the people”. Therefore, it manifests the need of every individual’s participation into the Democratic process. Political analysts gave two types of democracy: procedural and substantive democracy. 1. Procedural meaning it emphasizes minimal standards of democracy or just a show off where people don’t have any equal participation in the process. 2. Substantive is the equal participation of all groups in society, failure to do so would mean a disgrace on the part of the person (Janda, Berry, & Goldman, 2006). Hence, legitimacy of democracy is emphasized through the electoral process, where people are free to choose its own leaders and whatever will be the outcome or result of it, they should abide with it (Purdue, 2007). Democratization It is the process where the concept of democracy expands (Purdue, 2007). Ideally this term encapsulates the expansion of political ideals with different quality that aroused during the modern period. Roots of Democracy We traced this to the Greeks which we all know started from Athens. Followed by the Romans with their propagation of the concept of “Republicanism”. However, in the mid-18th to 19th century as a trend known as the “Age of Enlightenment” began to spread across Europe, it adapted the Athenian and Roman ideals and was coupled with liberalism (Perry, 1983). Modern Democracy Democracy now has a tranquilizing effect, because it involves pacification or subjugation due to the widespread issues. For this reason, it requires a decision from the voters who would too difficult to function in the modern world. Because the interest of nation is at stake. Whatever will be the outcome, all of it lies directly in the hands of its people (Purdue, 2007). Prepared by: Melvin L. Peñafiel Jr., LPT  Essential Ingredients of Democracy 1. Popular support of the government- The legitimacy of the lawmakers is based on the support given by the public through their votes. For this reason, this is their key for the preservation of their respective positions. 2. Political Competition- Brought by discernible differences between and among parties due to their leanings, creates rivalry among people 3. Alternation in power- It goes to a saying “the world is round” therefore, no one knows who will be the next ruling party or group 4. Popular Representation- Voters elect their representative which will voice out their plea and in turn would protect the public interest. 5. Majority Rule- Whatever will be the decision of the policy-making body, it would be consulted first to the people and if it became a source of conflict, a group will therefore make a stand and will decide for the common good. Part I. FILL IN THE BLANKS A 1. The writing system known as cuneiform uses ___________ on clay tables that made records exists. 2. _________ is where powers are legitimized as people are free to choose the leaders they want. S 3. It was in during ______________ when the concept of Republicanism was practiced. S 4. The ___________ are known as “upright human” which were widely distributed. E 5. During this period _____________ is when animal domestication and farming began. 6. ____________ type of democracy only emphasizes the minimum standards of democracy. S 7. The ___________ were known as “handy man” due to their capacity to create tools. S 8. ___________ provides foundation of moral system among people to uphold principles. M 9. ___________ is the name of the band who composed the song “Lucy” E 10. The _________ is considered as the least discovered due to its sudden extinction N Part II. Essay T In your opinion, why is it that despite being questionable, the theory of evolution is still being studied? Explain your answers in not less than 5 sentences. Analysis on Philippine Democracy Based on our discussion about the concept of democracy, do you think this concept is ideal to our country? To answer this question be guided with the following sub-questions: 1. Do we Filipinos really adhere to the true ideals of democracy? What are the things that you noticed? Cite some events that made you say so. A 2. And do the ideals of democracy go against our culture? What are those Filipino values that you know S that made you say so? S 3. What type of democracy do we have? Is it substantive or procedural democracy? Explain how did you I come up with that answer by citing some of your observations. *To avoid plagiarism, paraphrase your statements and put an in-text or parenthetical citation in every answer. G N Criteria M E Explanation (5 Points) You are able to defend your argument. Demonstrated Knowledge (5 You were able to directly link what you have N Points) learned. T Completion (5 Points) You were able to completely answer the questions. Workmanship (5 Points) You were able to craft a good output. Timeliness (5 Points) You were able to submit it on time. Prepared by: Melvin L. Peñafiel Jr., LPT  Allen, J., Anton, S., & Stanford, C. (2017). Biological Anthropology: The Natural History of Humankind. New York: Pearson. Brix, J. (2010). 21st Century Anthropology- A Reference Handbook. London: SAGE Publications. Feuerstein, G., Kak, S., & Frawley, D. (2005). The Search of the Cradle of Civilization: New Light on Ancient India. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. Ember, C. R., Ember, M., & Peregrine, P. N. (2014). Anthropology. New York: Pearson. Ember, C., Ember, M., & Peregrine, P. (2014). Human Evolution and Culture: Highlights of Anthropology. New York: Pearson. Haviland, W. A., Prins, H. E., Walrath, D., & McBride, B. (2017). Anthropology The Human Challenge. New York: CENGAGE. R E Janda, K., Berry, J., & Goldman, J. (2006). The Challenge of Democracy: Government in America. New F York: CENGAGE. E Jurmain, R. (2017). Essentials of Physical Anthropology. Boston: CENGAGE. R E Kottak, C. (2010). Anthropology Appreciating Human Diversity. New York: McGraw Hill. N C Larsen, C. S. (2019). Essentials of Biological Anthropology. New York: W. W HORTON & COMPANY. E Lewis, B., Jurmain, R., & Kilgore, L. (2012). Understanding Humans: An Introduction to Physical Anthropology and S Archaeology. New York: CENGAGE Learning. Maisels, C. K. (1998). Near East: Archaeology in the 'Cradle of Civilization'. London: Routledge. Park, M. (2013). Introducing Anthropology: An Integrated Approach. New York: McGraw Hill Education. Perry, M. (1983). Unfinished Journey: A History of the World. Boston: Houghton Mifflin School. Purdue, D. (2007). Civil Societies and Social Movements. New York: Routledge. Saluba, D. J., Damilig, A. D., Carlos, A. F., Barlan, J. M., & Cuadra, J. F. (2016). Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics for Senior High School. Malabon: Mutya Publishing House Inc. Prepared by: Melvin L. Peñafiel Jr., LPT