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TOPIC 2
EVOLUTION OF MAN, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
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Meaning of Evolution
- Evolution is gradual process
in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better
form.
- Evolution is the process by which an organism
becomes more sophisticated over time and in response to its environment.
- Evolution is the change in the characteristics
of a species over several generations and relies on the process of natural
selection.
- Evolution is change in the heritable
characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.These
characteristics are the expressions of genes that are passed on from parent to
offspring during reproduction. Different characteristics tend to exist within
any given population as a result of mutation, genetic recombination and other
sources of genetic variation
Human evolution is the
lengthy process of change by which people originated from apelike ancestors.
Scientific evidence shows that the physical and behavioural traits shared by
all people originated from apelike ancestors and evolved over a period of
approximately six million years.
One of the earliest defining human traits, bipedalism, the ability
to walk on two legs evolved over 4 million years ago. Other important human
characteristics such as a large and complex brain, the ability to make and use
tools, and the capacity for language developed more recently. Many advanced
traits including complex symbolic expression, art, and elaborate cultural
diversity emerged mainly during the past 100,000 years.
There are two major theories that try to explain the origin of
man. These are theory of creation and the theory of
evolution. In this topic we will study the theories of
how man came to be, concentrating especially on the scientific theory of
evolution.
1. THEORY OF CREATION
Such theory explains that there is super natural power
that creates everything. This super natural power is God. Refer from the Holy
Bible and Qur'an e.g from Biblical knowledge, (Genesis chapter 1:26) it says that:- God created man by using soil, at
first they created a man and then later a woman. These two
creatures established their relationship and this marked the beginning of human
family.
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| Adam and Eve (The Theory of Creation) |
2. THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION OF MAN
The story of human evolution began in Africa
about six million years ago and it describes the very long process that our
ancestors went through to ultimately become modern humans. This process has
been uncovered by studying fossils and understanding the underlying theory of
evolution, and while new fossils are uncovered every decade revealing new
chapters, scientists agree about the basic story.
The theory of evolution of man was proposed by an English
man known as Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882).
The theory says that: - man’s species has been changing gradually from lower
stage to better stage due to environment. Changing goes hand in hand with
improvement of methods of obtaining food, cloth and shelter.The gradual change
of man is called evolution.
The theory of evolution tries to explain the origin of
man by describing the changes that our ancestors underwent until they were like
modern man. The first man belong to the family of primates which included Ape, Gorilla,
Monkey and Chimpanzee. These animals lived in the forest walking on four limbs
and their bodies covered with hair. Because of environmental changes and
diminishing of forests, they started to live in open grassland. The environment
forced them to adopt new way of walking by using two limbs known as Bipedalism.
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| The Theory of Evolution |
STAGES OF MAN’S
EVOLUTION
1. MODERN APES
This is the first stage of man's evolution, it is sometimes called primates. It included Gorilla, Monkey, and Chimpanzee.
Characteristics
- Their bodies were covered with lots of hair.
- They walked on four limbs
- They lived in dense forest.
- They had poorly mental abilities.
- They totally depended on nature eg. ate raw food
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| Chimpanzees |
2. AUSTRALOPITHECUS AFRICAN FAMILY
This stage started about 12million years ago (B.C) when
primates changed to near man. This stage divided into two
a) Zinjanthropus
b) Homo habilis
Zinjanthropus
- Fore limbs were free from walking.
- Hind limbs were used for standing and body balance.
- Man started to design, make and use tools.
- Man become skillful.
Pictures of Zinjanthropus
Pictures of Zinjanthropus
Homo Habilis
- It lived between 1,500,000 and 750,000 BC.
- Homohabilis become more skillful man, because was
systematic tools maker.
- Homohabilis believed to be the direct ancestor of
modern man.
- He had bigger brain and he was more systematic tool
maker.
- The skull of those
creatures were discovered at Olduvai Gorge and omo in Eastern and Rudolf in Kenya.
Pictures of Homo Habilis
Pictures of Homo Habilis
3. HOMO ERECTUS
Characteristics
- Man was fully moving upright.
- He become more skillful tools maker than Homohabilis.
- It's fossils have been dug up in Olorgesaille and near
Lake Turkana in the Kenya, Olduvai gorge in Tanzania.
Pictures of Homo Erectus
Pictures of Homo Erectus
4. HOMO SAPIENS
Characteristics
- He is a true man of today
- Has a large brain in size
- Has less thick jaws
- He was highly skillful man
- He made tools by using stones and bones.
Pictures of Homo Sapiens
Pictures of Homo Sapiens
Homo sapiens is a modern man.
Homo sapiens is believed to have evolved into Homo
sapiens sapiens about 50,000 years ago. This man has a large brain and great
intelligence.
NB: the theory of evolution has been supported by
Archaeologist Dr. Leakey in Olduvai Gorge in 1959
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| Homo Sapiens Sapiens |
Basic Characteristics of Human Evolution
1. Development of man’s ability to design, make and use
tools.
2. Ability of man to walk on two limbs. (Bi-pedalism)
3. Ability of man to think.
4. Ability of man to domesticate plants and animals.
STONE AGE
Stone age: This is historical period in which man made
and used stone tools. Is a period based on man's economic activities and type
of the tools used . eg, Stone age, Iron age, Science technology age etc.
Stone Age is divided into three ages
1. Early or Old stone age.
2. Middle stone
age.
3. Late or new
stone age
1. EARLY OR OLD STONE AGE
This is the first period of stone age. It existed between
1,750,000 B.C and 750,000 B.C. Zinjanthropus- was the only man existed in this period.
The early stone tools were pebbles, chopping, hammer stone, hand axe etc.
Man used these tool for
-
killing and skinning animal flesh
- Digging up roots
-
Cutting tree branches
- For defense
Man obtained his food by hunting and gathering
In this period man had low ability to control his
environment.
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| Early Stone Tools |
Characteristics of Early or Old Stone Age
In East Africa stone age sites are found at Olorgasaille,
Nsongezi and Olduvai.
1. Man lived primitive life depending on nature.
2. Man made and use crude (poor) tools.
3. Man lived by hunting and gathering.
4. Man ate raw food i.e meat
5. Man walked up right.
6. Man lived in caves.
7. Man did not wear clothes.
2. MIDDLE STONE AGE
This stage covered the period between 750,000BC to 50,000
BC.
This period man improved his stone tools.
Tools were -smaller, sharper and easier to handle.
Tools were spear, Arrows, Needles, Stone picks, Knives,
projectile point and bone awls.
These tools were used for
- Digging up roots.
- Killing and skinning animals.
- Cuttings & chopping
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| Stone Tools |
THE DISCOVERY OF FIRE
Fire was discovered by man who was scratching pieces of
wood using his hands. The more he continued scratching, the pieces of wood got
heat the smoke come out, the scratch caused friction of scratched wood and led
to emission of fire.
Importance of Fire to Man
1. Man started to eat roasted food i.e meat
2. Man started to live in cold areas.
3. Man used fire to clean bushes.
4. Man used fire to provide light at night.
5. Fire used to kill small animals e.g rabbit
6. With fire man increased working hours .
7. Man use fire to attract prey.
8. Man used fire for defense from dangerous animals like
lion.
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| Making Fire |
General Characteristic of Middle Stone Age
1. Man discovered fire.
2. Man developed some religious beliefs.
3. Man started to live complex life.
4. Man’s main occupation were hunting and gathering, sedentary/
nomadic life
3. THE LATE STONE AGE (NEW STONE AGE)
In East Africa, late stone age started from around 50,000
BC to the first millennium AD. In this stage man used better tools compared to
the previous stone ages. Tools become more sharper and smaller in size. Tools
were stone exes, blades, spears, arrows, burin, bone harpoon point etc.
Man started permanent settlement. The tools were still
largely made of stone but they were far better than those of earlier periods. This
period marked the beginning of settled communities. In areas such as Kondoa
Irangi, paintings and drawings in the carves proved this fact. The paintings
and drawings show the shape of tools used and animal hunted.
Characteristics of the Late Stone Age
1. Man used better tools compare to the previous ages.
2. Man started to domesticated plant and animal.
3. Man become food producer.
4. Increase of population.
5. It was beginning of settled communities and villages.
6. This period marked to be primarily on division of
labour.
Example: women become child bearers and cares while man
for protecting the families and hunting
Informal education started in this period.
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| Handles and Stone Hamers |
IRON AGE
Iron age is believed to have started during the first
millennium A.D. This was the period when man made and used Iron tools. The
discovery and use of iron improved man’s standard of living. Iron tools were
discovered about 3000 years ago. The first people to make and use iron tools in
Africa were the people of Ethiopia and Egypt. Iron skills and knowledge were
not uniform or the same in Africa.
The first important towns for iron smelting were:
Meroe in Sudan
Axum in Ethiopia
Nok area in West Africa
In East Africa, it is believed that man started to use
iron from the first millennium A.D E.g. Iron discovered earlier in Engaruka,
Uvinza, Karagwe, Ugweno and Western shores of lake Victoria. Iron tools
included iron spears, arrows, Axes, Hoes etc. Iron technology helped early
African societies to produce and use iron tools.To produce better weapons for
defense.
The Result of Using Iron Tools
1. It led to increase in food production. Man could now
clear his areas for cultivation.
2. Increase in population due to more food.
3. There was emergence of specialization i.e. Iron
workers (black smiths) and food producers.
4. It led to the emergence
of complex villages / development of political organization as
kingdom and states.
5. Tools were highly improved and more efficient
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| Iron Tools (sickle, knife and axe) |
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