LESSON 3
Thursday, October 7, 2021 12:11 AM
Looking Back at Human Biocultural and Social Evolution
HUMAN ORIGIN
It is a common understanding that change is the only permanent thing in this world.
Every living thing is dynamic and , as such, undergoes transformation. Likewise, man
as the most important component of society, goes through evolutionary changes that
helps him adapt to his environment. Thus, his adaptation started the formation of
society as well as cultural development which is essential for survival.
Looking at evolution as man’s linear progression. Evolution is a natural process of biological changes occurring in a population across
successive generations. It helps us identify and analyze man’s physiological development which is important in his subsistence. The
evolution of man became an important concern in the emergence of different societies. Early man’s development serves as an avenue in
analyzing the progress of our society. For millions of years, man in the form of early hominid, was a herd/tribal animal, primarily a herd
herbivore. During the next two million years, the human was tribal hunter/warrior. All of the human social drives developed long before
he developed intellectually. They are, therefore, instinctive. Such instincts as mother-love, compassion, cooperation, curiosity,
inventiveness and competitiveness are ancient and embedded in the human. They were all necessary for the survival of the human and
pre-human. Hence, man’s progression and characteristics are essential in understanding the capability for adaptation.
SPECIES CHARACTERISTICS ILLUSTRATION
Homo habilis Species with a brain of a Broca’s area which is associated with speech in
modern humans and was first to make stone tools. The species name
means “Handy Man”. Lived about 2.4 to 1.4 million years ago scavenging
for food.
Homo Species characterized by a longer face, larger molar and pre-molar teeth,
rudolfensis and having a larger braincase compared to habilis particularly larger
frontal lobes, areas of the brain that processes information. The species
lived about 1.9 to 1.8 million years ago.
Homo erectus The species name means “Upright Man” with body proportions similar to
that of modern humans. Lived 1.89 to 143,000 years ago; adapted to hot
climates and mostly spread in Africa and Asia. They were the first to use
axe and knives and produce fire.
Homo Species with large brow ridge and short wide bodies that lived about
heidelbergenesis 700,000 to 200,000 years ago in Europe and Africa. They were the first to
hunt wild animals in a routine basis using spears, and first to construct
human shelters.
Homo Species nicknamed “Hobbit” due to their small stature with a height of
floresiensis more or less 3 feet and lived 95,000 to 17,000 years ago in the island of
Flores, Indonesia along with other dwarfed animal species.
Homo sapiens The species name means “Wise Man” that appeared form 200,000 years
ago. The present human race belongs to this species.
Homo sapiens Subspecies with short yet stocky in body build adapted to winter climates
neanderthalensis especially in icy cold places in Europe and Asia. The subspecies, also
known as “Neanderthal Man” is the closest relative of modern humans.
The first to practice burial of their dead, hunting, and gathering food and
sewing clothes from animal skin using bone needles
Homo sapiens Subspecies known as Cro-Magnon characterized to be anatomically
sapiens modern humans and lived in the last Ice Age of Europe from 40,000 to
10,000 years ago. They were the first to produce art in cave paintings and
crafting tools and accessories.
Simple Differentiation of the Cultural Evolution
PALEOLETHIC AGE The physical as well as the mental development of early human beings helped them
* Unpolished stone tools understand and adapt to their existing environment. Thus, their adjustment served as the
* Hunting and gathering onset of their culture. Culture enables the members of society to develop ways of coping
* Nomadic way of living with the exigencies of nature as well as ways of harnessing their environment. The changes
made by man through his interaction with the environment establish the different cultural
NEOLETHIC AGE evolution which determines man’s sociocultural development.
* Polished stone tools
* Domestication of plants and animals
* Living in permanent places
USCP Page 1
Thursday, October 7, 2021 12:11 AM
Looking Back at Human Biocultural and Social Evolution
HUMAN ORIGIN
It is a common understanding that change is the only permanent thing in this world.
Every living thing is dynamic and , as such, undergoes transformation. Likewise, man
as the most important component of society, goes through evolutionary changes that
helps him adapt to his environment. Thus, his adaptation started the formation of
society as well as cultural development which is essential for survival.
Looking at evolution as man’s linear progression. Evolution is a natural process of biological changes occurring in a population across
successive generations. It helps us identify and analyze man’s physiological development which is important in his subsistence. The
evolution of man became an important concern in the emergence of different societies. Early man’s development serves as an avenue in
analyzing the progress of our society. For millions of years, man in the form of early hominid, was a herd/tribal animal, primarily a herd
herbivore. During the next two million years, the human was tribal hunter/warrior. All of the human social drives developed long before
he developed intellectually. They are, therefore, instinctive. Such instincts as mother-love, compassion, cooperation, curiosity,
inventiveness and competitiveness are ancient and embedded in the human. They were all necessary for the survival of the human and
pre-human. Hence, man’s progression and characteristics are essential in understanding the capability for adaptation.
SPECIES CHARACTERISTICS ILLUSTRATION
Homo habilis Species with a brain of a Broca’s area which is associated with speech in
modern humans and was first to make stone tools. The species name
means “Handy Man”. Lived about 2.4 to 1.4 million years ago scavenging
for food.
Homo Species characterized by a longer face, larger molar and pre-molar teeth,
rudolfensis and having a larger braincase compared to habilis particularly larger
frontal lobes, areas of the brain that processes information. The species
lived about 1.9 to 1.8 million years ago.
Homo erectus The species name means “Upright Man” with body proportions similar to
that of modern humans. Lived 1.89 to 143,000 years ago; adapted to hot
climates and mostly spread in Africa and Asia. They were the first to use
axe and knives and produce fire.
Homo Species with large brow ridge and short wide bodies that lived about
heidelbergenesis 700,000 to 200,000 years ago in Europe and Africa. They were the first to
hunt wild animals in a routine basis using spears, and first to construct
human shelters.
Homo Species nicknamed “Hobbit” due to their small stature with a height of
floresiensis more or less 3 feet and lived 95,000 to 17,000 years ago in the island of
Flores, Indonesia along with other dwarfed animal species.
Homo sapiens The species name means “Wise Man” that appeared form 200,000 years
ago. The present human race belongs to this species.
Homo sapiens Subspecies with short yet stocky in body build adapted to winter climates
neanderthalensis especially in icy cold places in Europe and Asia. The subspecies, also
known as “Neanderthal Man” is the closest relative of modern humans.
The first to practice burial of their dead, hunting, and gathering food and
sewing clothes from animal skin using bone needles
Homo sapiens Subspecies known as Cro-Magnon characterized to be anatomically
sapiens modern humans and lived in the last Ice Age of Europe from 40,000 to
10,000 years ago. They were the first to produce art in cave paintings and
crafting tools and accessories.
Simple Differentiation of the Cultural Evolution
PALEOLETHIC AGE The physical as well as the mental development of early human beings helped them
* Unpolished stone tools understand and adapt to their existing environment. Thus, their adjustment served as the
* Hunting and gathering onset of their culture. Culture enables the members of society to develop ways of coping
* Nomadic way of living with the exigencies of nature as well as ways of harnessing their environment. The changes
made by man through his interaction with the environment establish the different cultural
NEOLETHIC AGE evolution which determines man’s sociocultural development.
* Polished stone tools
* Domestication of plants and animals
* Living in permanent places
USCP Page 1
