HUMAN ORIGINS

Looking at evolution as man's linear progression. Evolution is a

natural process of biological changes occurring in a population across
successive generations (Banaag, 2012-p. 31). It helps us identify and
analyze man's physiological development which is important in his
subsistence. Most scientists currently recognize some 15 to 20 different
species of early humans.
More so, the evolution of man became an important concern in
the emergence of different societies. For two million 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 a tribal
hunter/warrior.They are, therefore, instinctive. Such instincts as mother-
love, compassion, co- operation, curiosity, inventiveness and
competitiveness are ancient and embedded in the human.

SPECIES CHARACTERISTICS

Homo habilis >> Species with a brain of a Broca's area

which is associated with speech in
modem humans and was the 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 rudolfensis >> Species characterized by a longer

face, larger molar and premolar teeth, and
having a larger brain case compared to
habilis.

>> The species lived about 1.9 ton 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.
 >> They were the first hunters with
improvised tools such as axes and
knives, and were the first to produce
fire.

Homo heidelbergenesis >> Species with large brow ridge and

short wide bodies that lived about
700,000 to 200,000 years ago in Europe
and Africa. They were the first of early
human species to live in colder climates,
first to hunt large animals on routine
basis using spears, and first to construct
human shelters.

Homo floresiensis >> Species nicknamed "Hobbit" due to

their small stature with a height of
more or less 3 feet and lived 95,000 to
17000 years ago in the island of Flores,
Indonesia along with other dwarfed
animal species.

Homo sapiens >> The species name means "Wise Man"

that appeared from 200,000 years ago.
The present human race belongs to this
species.

Homo sapiens >> The subspecies, also known as

neanderthalensis "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.
They lived about 200,000 to 28,000
years ago.

Homo sapiens >> Subspecies known as Cro-Magnon

sapiens characterized to be anatomically
modern humans and lived in the Ice Age
of Europe from 40,000 to 10,000 years
ago. They were the first to produce art
 in cave paintings and crafting decorated
tools and accessories.

The physical as well as the mental development of early human beings

helped them understand and adapt to their existing environment. Thus,
their adjustment served as the onset of their culture. Culture enables
the members of society to develop ways of coping with the exigencies of
nature as well as ways of harnessing their environment (Panopio, et al.
1994 p.37). The changes made by man through his interaction with the
environment establish the different cultural evolution which determines
man's sociocultural development.

MAN'S CULTURAL EVOLUTION

Cultural Period Time Frame Cultural Development

• Paleolithic Age • traditionally coincided >> Use of simple
• (Old Stone Age) with the first evidence of pebble tools.
tool construction and use >> Learned to live in
by Homosome 2.5 million caves.
years ago. >> Discovered the use
of fire.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN SOCIETY

1. It is a social system
2. A society is relatively large.
3. A society recruits most of its members from within.
4.A society sustains itself across generations.
5.A society's members share a culture.
6. A society occupies a territory

TYPES OF SOCIETIES

Type of Human Societies Characteristics

• Hunting and Food >> The earliest form of human society.

Gathering Societies >> People survived by foraging for
(Division of latin vegetable foods and small game,
Man's Group fishing, hunting larger wild animals,
Women’s Group) and collecting shellfish.
 >> They subsisted from day to day on
whatever was available.
>> They used tools made of stones,
woods, and bones.

• Horticultural societies >> People learned to use human muscle

power and hand- held tools to cultivate
fields.
>> Classified as subsistence farming and
surplus farming.

SUBSISTENCE FARMING:
>> Involves only producing enough food
to feed the group.
>> The settlements are small.
>> Neighborhood is solid

Type of Human Characteristics

Societies
>> Political organization is confined in
the village
>> Authority is based on positions
inherited by males through the kinship
system.
SURPLUS FARMING:
>> Practiced in thickly populated and
permanent settlement.
>> There was occupational
specialization with prestige differences.
>> Social stratification was well
established.
>> The community tended to be
structured by kinship relations that are
male dominated.

3. Pastoral Societies >> It relied on herding and the

domestication of animals for food and
clothing to satisfy the greater needs of
the group.
 >> Most pastoralists were nomads who
followed their herds n a never-ending
quest for pasture and water.
>> It was organized along male-
centered kinship groups.
>> It was usually united under strong
political figures. However, centralized
political leadership did not occur.

4. Agricultural Societies >> These societies were characterized

by the use of the plow in farming.
>> Creation of the irrigation system
provided farming enough surplus for
the community.
>> Ever-growing populations came
together in broad river-valley system.
>> Those who controlled access to
arable land and its use became rich and
powerful since they could demand the
payment of taxes and political support.
>> By taxing the bulk of agriculture
surplus, the political leaders could make
bureaucracies implement their plans
and armies to protect their previleges.
>> Social classes became entrenched,
and the state evolved.

Cultural Period Time Frame Cultural Development

>> Developed a small
sculptures; and
monumental
painting. incised
designs, and reliefs
on
the walls of caves.
>>"Food-collecting
cultures"

Neolithic Age Occurred sometime >> Stone tools were

(New Stone Age) about 10,000 BCE shaped by polishing
or grinding.
 >> Settlement in
Permanent villages.
>> Dependence on
domesticated plants
or animals.
>> Appearance of
such crafts as pottery
and weaving.
>>”Food-producing
cultures”.

Simple Differentiation of the Cultural Evolution

PALEOLITHIC NEOLOTHIC The evidence of a

change in economic
AGE AGE aspect have resulted
• Unpolished • Polished stone in the transformation
Stone tools tools of man’s way of life.
Early societies started
• Hunting • Domestication emerge as a result of
And Gathering of plants and man’s interaction
Animals with his
environment.
• Nomadic Way • Living in Every society is
Of living permanent organized in such a
Places way that there will
rules of conduct,
customs, traditions,
folkways, and mores,
and expectations that
ensure appropriate
behavior among
members (Palispis,
2007 p.254). This
organizational
component provides
the basis of
identifying what is
acceptable or not
within the social
 order. Sociologically
and
anthropologically,
society possesses
different
characteristics show
the interdependence
of people with one
another.

9. SOCIETY
10. EVOLUTION

HOMO HABILIS
HOMO RUDOLFENSIS

HOMO ERECTUS
Homo Heidelbergenesis
Homo Floresiensis
HOMO SAPIENS
HOMO SAPIENS NEANDERTHALENSI
HOMO SAPIENS SAPIENS