HISTORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL

PROBLEMS
Chapter 2: Part 1
Back to the Beginning
Humans belong to the greater
family of organisms often
referred to as the great apes.

The divergence of humans and

closely related ancestors from
other great apes is thought to
have occurred some time
between 4-8 million years ago
(mya). https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/essential-timeline-understanding-evolution-
homo-sapiens-180976807/

The earliest fossil records of organisms which displays direct

divergence with the genera of homo are those of Australopithecus sps.
Genus: Homo
First species of the Homo genus to diverge from Australopithecus is
Homo habilis. Evidence suggests this divergence occurred ~2.5 mya.

Further evolutionary
adaptations from H. habilis
lead to the development of
several Homo genus
intermediates before H.
sapiens appeared.

H. sapiens are the only

extant species in the Homo
genus today.

http://www.evolutionevidence.org/evidence/progressions/
 Species: Homo sapiens
Homo heidelbergensis (700-200 tya) is
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/
science-nature/essential-timeline-
understanding-evolution-homo-

thought to be the common ancestor of

sapiens-180976807/

Neanderthals, Denisovans, and modern

day Humans.

Neanderthals (430-40 tya) and

Denisovans (290-15 tya) are considered
our closest relatives.
The oldest H. sapien
fossils date back to
~300,000 years ago.

Many of the earliest H.

sapien fossils show
features which are H. neanderthalensis Denisovans

considered more archaic. https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2016/05/08/the-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denisovan
2-million-year-melee-neanderthals-vs-humans/
Hunter-gatherers
Up until ~12,000 years ago, humans were hunter-gatherers.

Key characteristics of hunter-gatherer societies

• Foragers (both for wild plants and animals)
• Egalitarian
• Nomadic Ecological footprint
did not exceed their
• S U S TA I N A B L E
environment’s
biological capacity
Sustainable ≠ Undisturbed
• Utilized fire to burn down brush and create grasslands
• Spread seeds of wild plants into new environments
• Reduced animal populations in localized areas

https://www.google.com/url?
sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiYnb2epd3fAhUjNH0KHeU3AbYQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=
https%3A%2F%2Florineff.com%2F2016%2F01%2F09%2Fpicking-off-the-burrs%2F&psig=AOvVaw3u461HZD9-
aATtLao2haEl&ust=1547006159802620
Just Another Animal
As hunter-gatherers, humans were a part of the natural
cycle of resource use, degradation, and recycle.

https://www.shutterstock.com/pt/video/clip-4950113-large-herd-blue-wildebeest-plains-zebras-grazing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaver
The Age of Agriculture
A cultural shift called the agricultural revolution began 12-
10 thousand years ago.

Key Characteristics

• Settled communities which didn’t move around as much

• Domestication of animals and plants
• Increased population size of communities
• Increased ecological footprint
Plant Domestication
Domestication of wild plant
species; tubers, legumes,
grains.

Hardy plants that produced

nutrient rich foods.

Many advancements in
agriculture took place in the
Fertile Crescent.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/mar98/k6027-8.htm
Early Agricultural Practices

Slash-and-burn cultivation: clearing of small areas of

forest by cutting away vegetation and burning it.

Shifting Cultivation: movement from plot to plot. Allowed

older plots to regenerate over several decades before
using again.
Chapter 2 page 28. Living in the Environment, 4th Canadian Edition. 2017
 Animal Domestication
First domesticated animals
were dogs. (YAY!)

Animals were
domesticated for 3 main
reasons:
• Hunting/protection
• Food
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/11/these-may-be-world-s-first-images-dogs-and-they-re-
wearing-leashes?

• Work/strength fbclid=IwAR3t1LwYg3CJVNbD2ZTNqPLCSj7dYoBqQRQYCvdRzNjKGoNJPmR47Jevojw
Hi! I’m Molly.
Woof!
Not just a Food Revolution
The agricultural revolution changed more than just the
way humans acquired food, it changed the fundamentals
of society and had major cultural impacts.

• Formation of larger communities – villages, towns, cities

• Created centers for trading goods
• Implementation of formal governments and religions
• Land ownership caused disputes and conflicts
Industrial-Medical Revolution
Began in England in the 1700s. Didn’t reach Canada till the
latter half of the 1800s.

Key Characteristics

• Switch from renewable energy sources (wood) to non-

renewable sources (coal, fossil fuels, natural gas)
• Huge advancements in technology
• Longer life-span and boom in population
• Increase in pollution and environmental degradation
Impacts on the Environment

Increase in air pollution from the burning of coal and fossil

fuels.

Increase in water pollution from harmful by-products

produced through industrialized processes.

Soil and ground water depletion from unsustainable

agricultural practices.

Destruction of natural habitats causing a depletion in

biodiversity.
All is Not Lost

https://www.wired.com/2011/04/evolution-peppered-moth/

Charles Darwin
1809-1882
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/
Charles_Darwin_by_Julia_Margaret_Cameron_2.jpg/800px-
Charles_Darwin_by_Julia_Margaret_Cameron_2.jpg
Information and Globalization Revolution
Began as early as 1950s. Increased tremendously with
the development of the internet.

Key Characteristics

• Major advancements in information-communication

technology: telephone, radio, television, computers,
internet, databases, and remote-sensing satellites

• Increase in information sharing and access to

information

• Homogenization of global economy and culture