Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics

Lesson 4: Biological and Cultural Evolution

Biological and cultural evolutions are key concepts in the study of the origins of modern humans . Biological
evolution refers to the changes, modifications, and variations in the genetics and inherited traits of biological
populations from one generation to another. In studying biological evolution, scientist study the changes in the
physical body of humans, the changes in the shape and size of their bones, brain, dentition, and fingers for
instance. Included in the study of biological evolution are the changes in posture, movement, and the development
of bipedalism or walking on two feet in an upright position.
Cultural evolution or sociocultural evolution on the hand, refers to the changes or development in cultures from a
simple form to a more complex form of human culture. Sociocultural evolution happens as a result of human
adaptation to different factors like climatic changes and population increase.
Biological evolution is based on the theory of evolution that was introduced by the famous English naturalist and
geologist Charles Darwin (1809-1882).
Charles Darwin -On the Origins of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859).
- The evolution of species happens through natural selection, the reason for occurrence of evolution.
3 Principles of Natural Selection
1. Variations. Every species is made up of a variety of individuals wherein some are adopted to their
environment compared to others.
2. Hereditability. Organisms produce progeny with different sets of traits that can inherited.
3. Differential reproductive success. Organisms that have traits most suitable to their environment will
survive and transfer these variations to their offspring in subsequent generations.
From Hominids to Homo Sapiens Sapiens
Hominids. The general term used to categorize the group of early humans and other creatures that can walk erect
during the prehistoric period.
4 Categories of Hominids
1. Sahelanthropus
- 6-7 million years ago
- It had both apelike and humanlike characteristics.
- A skull similar to Australopithecus and modern human.
- Height almost similar with the chimpanzee
- Brain size: 320-380 cc.
- Small teeth
- Had the ability to walk upright
2. Ardipithecus. “ape on the ground” 5.6 million years ago. (Ardipithecus Kadabba, Ardipithecus Ramidus)
- Height about 4 feet
- Weight about 120 pounds
- Skull size similar to an ape
- Small brain
- Bipedal
- Lived in jungle and forests like chimpanzee.
3. Australopithecus. “The Southern Ape” (5 million-1 million years ago)
- Brain size: 500 cc or almost 1/3 size of the modern human brain
- Upright
- Bipedal
- Tool users not tool makers
- Food scavengers
 4. Homo. They are classified as humans and not humanlike creatures because they had bigger brains and were
bipedal.
a. Homo Habilis
- 3-4 feet
- Brain size: 700 cc
b. Homo sapiens. Is the only extant human species. The name is Latin for “wise man” and was introduced in
1758 by Carl Linnaeus (who is himself the original type specimen. Homo sapiens evolved in Africa. Like other
early humans that were living at this time, they gathered and hunted food, and evolved behaviors that
helped them respond to the challenges of survival in unstable environments.
2 Types of Homo sapiens
1. Homo sapiens neanderthelensis. They had a brain size larger than modern man and were gigantic in size.
Also, they had a large head and jaw were carnivores and the tools from the era indicate they were hunters.
They were also caving dwellers but their caves were more comfortable and they lived in groups and hunted
for food gathering.
2. Homo sapiens sapiens. Also known as “modern-day man” is what we are today. Compared to the Homo
sapiens neanderthelensis, they became smaller in size and the brain size reduced to 1300 cc. They were
also a reduction in the size of the jaw, rounding of the skull and chin. They were omnivores, had skillful
hands, and developed the power of thinking, producing art, more sophisticated tools and sentiments.

Lesson 5: Sociocultural and Political Evolution: The Development of Societies from the Hunting and Gathering
to the Agricultural, Industrial and Post-Industrial Stages

Types of Society
Sociologist have classified the different types of societies into six categories, each of which possesses its own
unique characteristics.
1. Hunting and Gathering Societies. These are the earliest forms of society. These are small and generally
with less than 50 members and nomadic. The members survive primarily by hunting, trapping, fishing, and
gathering edible plants.
2. Pastoral Societies. Rely on products through the domestication and breeding of animals for transportation
and food. These are common in areas where crops cannot be supported and only have to move when the land
in which animals gaze is no longer usable.
3. Horticultural Societies. These societies rely on the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and plants in order to
survive. They are often forced to relocate when the resources of the land are depleted or when the water
supplies decrease.
4. Agricultural Societies. They rely on the use of technology in order to cultivate crops in large areas,
including wheat, rice and corn. Productivity increases, and as long as there are plenty of food, people do not
have to move.
5. Industrial societies. They used advanced sources of energy to run large machinery which led to
industrialization, innovations in transportation led people to travel, work in factories, and live-in cities.
6. Post industrial Societies. Their economy is based on services and technology, not production. The economy
is dependent on tangible goods, people must pursue greater education, and the new communications
technology allows work to be performed from a variety of locations

5 Changes of Society
1. The economy undergoes a transition from the production of goods to the provision of services.
2. Knowledge becomes a valued form of capital.
3. Producing ideas is the main way to grow the economy.
4. Through processes of globalization and automation, the value and importance to the economy of blue-collar,
unionized work, including manual labor decline, and those of professional workers.
5. Behavioral and information sciences and technologies are developed and implemented.

How artifacts and fossils help us understand the cultural, social, and economic developments of modern
humans.
Fossils are information about human biology, which include bones and other remains of human beings.
Environmental conditions, however affect the preservation of fossils.
Artifacts refers to anything modified by man or made by man including tools, weapons and other material
creation.
Political Evolution and the Development of Early Civilization
The development of the early civilizations showed the political evolution of society. A civilization develops
because of a society’s highly advanced level of culture, social organization, political developments, judicial
system arts, and other forms of culture at a particular time.
4 major civilizations in the world
1. Sumerian civilization
2. Indus Valley civilization
3. Shang civilization of China
4. Egyptian civilization
These river valley civilizations are considered the cradle of civilization.
Political system of civilization
 Highly centralized and well-organized form of government whose leaders are powerful enough to order
the building of massive infrastructure and implement new policies for citizens.
 Had a clear hierarchy of officials with specific functions and responsibilities.
 They also had codified laws and rules that were obeyed and followed by the people.
 Developed an organized, stable, and effective government to ensure the safety of the people and
supervise the production and distribution of the food supply.
Political leaders of early civilizations were also tasked to do the following:
1. Craft laws
2. Implement laws
3. Impose justice and punishment
4. Collect taxes
5. Sometimes act as religious leaders as well.