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THE STORY OF HUMAN EVOLUTION

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Amita Yadav

The document provides an overview of human evolution from early hominids to modern humans. It discusses that hominids diverged from apes around 8 million years ago. Early hominids such as Australopithecines, Homo habilis, and Homo erectus developed increasingly advanced tools and technology. Homo sapiens emerged around 200,000 years ago, with Neanderthals present until around 30,000 years ago when they were replaced by Cro-Magnon humans. It also summarizes the transition to more settled agricultural lifestyles during the Neolithic period around 10,000 BCE. Key adaptations that differentiated humans from apes included bipedalism, increased brain size, changes in

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HISTORY PRESENTATION NAME :- Amita Yadav
1 The precursors of the modern human being Humans appeared late in Earth’s history The earliest ancestors of humans (hominids) diverged from apes about 8 million years ago. First Europeans: approx. 780,000 years ago
1. 4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE Paleolithic Age: ( Old Stone Age ) 2. 1,500,000 BCE -- 250,000 BCE 2,500,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE 3. 250,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE 4. 30,000 BCE -- 10,000 BCE
 “Paleolithic” --> “Old Stone” Age  2,500,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE  Made tools  hunting (men) & gathering (women)  small bands of 20-30 humans  NOMADIC (moving from place to place)
4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE  Hominids --> any member of the family of two-legged primates that includes all humans.  Australopithecines  An Apposable Thumb
 HOMO HABILIS ( “Man of Skills” )  found in East Africa.  created stone tools.
 Humans during this period found shelter in caves.  Cave paintings left behind. Purpose??
1,6000,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE  HOMO ERECTUS ( “Upright Human Being” )  BIPEDALISM  Larger and more varied tools --> primitive technology  First hominid to migrate and leave Africa for Europe and Asia.  First to use fire ( 500,000 BCE )
200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE HOMO SAPIENS ( “Wise Human Being” ) Neanderthals ( 200,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE ) Cro-Magnons ( 40,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE )
The first skull The skull of Neanderthal man NEANDERTHALS Neander valley, German(1856 Made clothes from animal skins Live in caves and tents.
Theories on prehistory and early man constantly change as new evidence comes to light. - Louis Leakey, British paleoanthropologist
CRO-MAGNONs:  Homo sapiens sapiens ( “Wise, wise human” )  By 30,000 BCE they replaced Neanderthals. WHY???
 “Neolithic”  “New Stone” Age  10,000 BCE – 4,000 BCE  Gradual shift from: Nomadic lifestyle  settled, stationery lifestyle. Hunting/Gathering  agricultural production and domestication of animals.
 8,000 BCE – 5,000 BCE  Agriculture developed independently in different parts of the world.  SLASH-AND-BURN Farming Middle East 8,000 BCE India 7,000 BCE Central America 6,500 BCE China 6,000 BCE Southeast Asia 5,000 BCE
Modern humans arose about 200,000 years ago Homo sapiens fossils date to 200,000 years ago. Human evolution is influenced by a tool-based culture. There is a trend toward increased brain size in hominids. Australopithecus afarensis Homo habilis Homo neanderthalensis Homo sapiens
Humans share a common ancestor with other primates Primates are mammals with flexible hands and feet, forward-looking eyes and enlarged brains. Primates evolved into prosimians and anthropoids. – Prosimians are the oldest living primates. – They are mostly small and nocturnal.
– Anthropoids are humanlike primates. They are subdivided into the New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, and hominoids. – Hominoids are divided into hominids, great apes, and lesser apes. – Hominids include living and extinct humans.
What differentiates Ape from Man? Critical Characteristics: Large brain Foramen magnum Dentition – Teeth Bipedal skeletal structure & musculature S-shaped spinal column [not C] pelvic structure [shortening-bowl shaped] muscular (gluteal & hamstring) lengthening of lower limb [femur] changes in feet to become weight-bearing structures
Brain Size Human vs. Chimp • modern man 1000 - 2000 cc • chimps 280 - 400 cc
Foramen Magnum • The hole at base of skull through which spinal cord passes • Position of foramen magnum strong indicator of the angle of the spinal column to the head • Habitual bipedalism
Dentition / Teeth • Reduction in size of incisors & canines – Ape canines  displays of aggression and as defensive weapons • Premolar & molar with flat occlusal wear pattern Chimpanzee Human
Gorilla vs. Human Skeleton Comparisons • Shape and position of the skull • Relative size of the neck • Relative length of the arm • Relative length and shape of pelvis • Posture especially shape of the spine – C-shaped vs. S-shaped
Skeletal Structure Upper legs angled inward from hip joints position knees to better support body during upright walking [apes sway from side to side] A = femur b = tibia c = weight-bearing axis
Comparison of Pelvis Structure Human Ilium shorter and broader allows hip muscles to steady the body during each bipedal step Human Pelvis • position of big toe • Foot shorter – less flexible toes  more rigid lever for pushing off with each step • Arch  shock absorber Chimpanzee Pelvis
Comparison of some soft tissue involved in biomechanical differences between chimps and humans [American Museum of Natural History webpage] • Humans  2 of 3 semicircular canals [balance] specialized to stabilize head • Less muscle between head and shoulders in humans – Chimps have to fight gravity to hold heads up while walking on all fours – Our head just sits on our necks • Humans  more gluteus maximus muscle – Stabilizes femur into pelvis and helps keeps trunk and leg moving together. • Achilles tendon and tendon of arch of the foot larger in humans – In running act like springs, absorbing and releasing energy
Bipedalism • Bipedal means walking on two legs. – foraging – carrying infants and food – using tools • Walking upright has important adaptive advantages.
Advantages of Bipedalism 1st stood upright then got smart Freeing hands – advantageous for carrying food or tools Improved vision in grasslands Reduce body’s exposure to hot sun Hunting or weapon use Feeding from bushes and low branches – easier when standing and moving upright between closely spaced bushes
THE STORY OF HUMAN EVOLUTION
THE STORY OF HUMAN EVOLUTION
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THE STORY OF HUMAN EVOLUTION

  • 2. 1 The precursors of the modern human being Humans appeared late in Earth’s history The earliest ancestors of humans (hominids) diverged from apes about 8 million years ago. First Europeans: approx. 780,000 years ago
  • 3. 1. 4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE Paleolithic Age: ( Old Stone Age ) 2. 1,500,000 BCE -- 250,000 BCE 2,500,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE 3. 250,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE 4. 30,000 BCE -- 10,000 BCE
  • 4.  “Paleolithic” --> “Old Stone” Age  2,500,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE  Made tools  hunting (men) & gathering (women)  small bands of 20-30 humans  NOMADIC (moving from place to place)
  • 5. 4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE  Hominids --> any member of the family of two-legged primates that includes all humans.  Australopithecines  An Apposable Thumb
  • 6.  HOMO HABILIS ( “Man of Skills” )  found in East Africa.  created stone tools.
  • 7.  Humans during this period found shelter in caves.  Cave paintings left behind. Purpose??
  • 8. 1,6000,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE  HOMO ERECTUS ( “Upright Human Being” )  BIPEDALISM  Larger and more varied tools --> primitive technology  First hominid to migrate and leave Africa for Europe and Asia.  First to use fire ( 500,000 BCE )
  • 9. 200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE HOMO SAPIENS ( “Wise Human Being” ) Neanderthals ( 200,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE ) Cro-Magnons ( 40,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE )
  • 10. The first skull The skull of Neanderthal man NEANDERTHALS Neander valley, German(1856 Made clothes from animal skins Live in caves and tents.
  • 11. Theories on prehistory and early man constantly change as new evidence comes to light. - Louis Leakey, British paleoanthropologist
  • 12. CRO-MAGNONs:  Homo sapiens sapiens ( “Wise, wise human” )  By 30,000 BCE they replaced Neanderthals. WHY???
  • 13.  “Neolithic”  “New Stone” Age  10,000 BCE – 4,000 BCE  Gradual shift from: Nomadic lifestyle  settled, stationery lifestyle. Hunting/Gathering  agricultural production and domestication of animals.
  • 14.  8,000 BCE – 5,000 BCE  Agriculture developed independently in different parts of the world.  SLASH-AND-BURN Farming Middle East 8,000 BCE India 7,000 BCE Central America 6,500 BCE China 6,000 BCE Southeast Asia 5,000 BCE
  • 15. Modern humans arose about 200,000 years ago Homo sapiens fossils date to 200,000 years ago. Human evolution is influenced by a tool-based culture. There is a trend toward increased brain size in hominids. Australopithecus afarensis Homo habilis Homo neanderthalensis Homo sapiens
  • 16. Humans share a common ancestor with other primates Primates are mammals with flexible hands and feet, forward-looking eyes and enlarged brains. Primates evolved into prosimians and anthropoids. – Prosimians are the oldest living primates. – They are mostly small and nocturnal.
  • 17. – Anthropoids are humanlike primates. They are subdivided into the New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, and hominoids. – Hominoids are divided into hominids, great apes, and lesser apes. – Hominids include living and extinct humans.
  • 18. What differentiates Ape from Man? Critical Characteristics: Large brain Foramen magnum Dentition – Teeth Bipedal skeletal structure & musculature S-shaped spinal column [not C] pelvic structure [shortening-bowl shaped] muscular (gluteal & hamstring) lengthening of lower limb [femur] changes in feet to become weight-bearing structures
  • 19. Brain Size Human vs. Chimp • modern man 1000 - 2000 cc • chimps 280 - 400 cc
  • 20. Foramen Magnum • The hole at base of skull through which spinal cord passes • Position of foramen magnum strong indicator of the angle of the spinal column to the head • Habitual bipedalism
  • 21. Dentition / Teeth • Reduction in size of incisors & canines – Ape canines  displays of aggression and as defensive weapons • Premolar & molar with flat occlusal wear pattern Chimpanzee Human
  • 22. Gorilla vs. Human Skeleton Comparisons • Shape and position of the skull • Relative size of the neck • Relative length of the arm • Relative length and shape of pelvis • Posture especially shape of the spine – C-shaped vs. S-shaped
  • 23. Skeletal Structure Upper legs angled inward from hip joints position knees to better support body during upright walking [apes sway from side to side] A = femur b = tibia c = weight-bearing axis
  • 24. Comparison of Pelvis Structure Human Ilium shorter and broader allows hip muscles to steady the body during each bipedal step Human Pelvis • position of big toe • Foot shorter – less flexible toes  more rigid lever for pushing off with each step • Arch  shock absorber Chimpanzee Pelvis
  • 25. Comparison of some soft tissue involved in biomechanical differences between chimps and humans [American Museum of Natural History webpage] • Humans  2 of 3 semicircular canals [balance] specialized to stabilize head • Less muscle between head and shoulders in humans – Chimps have to fight gravity to hold heads up while walking on all fours – Our head just sits on our necks • Humans  more gluteus maximus muscle – Stabilizes femur into pelvis and helps keeps trunk and leg moving together. • Achilles tendon and tendon of arch of the foot larger in humans – In running act like springs, absorbing and releasing energy
  • 26. Bipedalism • Bipedal means walking on two legs. – foraging – carrying infants and food – using tools • Walking upright has important adaptive advantages.
  • 27. Advantages of Bipedalism 1st stood upright then got smart Freeing hands – advantageous for carrying food or tools Improved vision in grasslands Reduce body’s exposure to hot sun Hunting or weapon use Feeding from bushes and low branches – easier when standing and moving upright between closely spaced bushes