EVOLUTION OF MAN

Evolution :- This is a process in which the present species of living

organisms came into being due to slow and successive changes (variations)
in their forefathers.

Evolution of Man:- Man is also formed due to successive and slow rate
changes in man like ancesters likes apes, chimpanzee, Gorilla etc.

Introduction :- No aspect of evolution has received such intense study

attraction and interest as the evolution of man. From time immemorial man
is puzzled with question such as, who was the first man? Where did he come
from? When he was born? He is keen to know his past so as to have some
insight in his future.

In middle ages, he looked for the answers of al these questions towards

religion. But with the development of scientific knowledge, now there are
two groups.

(a) Religious group

(b) Scientific group

First I want to discuss about religious group: According to Bible with

respect to the birth of Adam and Eve, Man was formed from dust, God
breathed in to his nostrils and put him in garden of Eden where fruit of the
“Tree of knowledge” was forbidden. God then formed Eve from a rib of
Adham while he was at sleep. Eve not only ate the fruit but persuaded Adam
to eat and on this act of disobedience both were thrown out naked in this
hostile world:

According to Holy Quran there are translations of same verses from the
Holy Quran, about the creation of man,

1. Allah is the creator of every thing.

2. And I created the living things with water.
3. Allah created every type of living couple.
The second group of scientists, however do not recognize the concept of
special creation as given in religious books. They all believe “theory of
organic evolution”. According to this theory, all organisms exiting at present
time have descended from simpler ones by gradual modifications which
have accumulated in successive gererationss.

According to scientists there are two approaches about the evolutionary

history of an organism.

1. Zoological position of man

2. Fossil record.

ZOOLOGICAL POSITION OF MAN

Everyman, woman, and child on earth, regardless of colour and creed, belong
to a single species known as Homo sapiens. In Latin, Homo sapiens means wise or
intelligent man, and reflects the fact that the size of brain is large and supposedly
more developed.
Humans are members of Order Primata of Class Mammalia. Primates
include, generally, completely hairy arboreal animals with eyes on front; opposable
toes; flattened nails instead of claws; collar bone present; two pectoral mammae with
teats; mode of alking plantigrade; and variety of teeth.
Order Primata is divided into three suborders:
1. Lemuroidea: includes lemurs and lorises; small nocturnal mammals
found in Madagascar and East Africa Only.
2. Tarsiodea: includes tarsiers; rat-like, nocturnal, and arboreal mammals
found in Phillipines and Malaya only.
3. Anthropoidea: includes monkeys, apes and man.
The order Anthropoidea may again be divided into three superfamilies, manely,
a. Ceboidea: includes New World monkeys of South America. These are small
sized brilliantly coloured monkeys with prehensile tail; nostrils are widely
separated and directed laterally, thus, are flat nosed. e.g. Spider monkey,
Squirrel monkey, Howlers etc.
b. Cercopithecidea: includes Old World monkeys of Asia and Africa. These are,