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Evolution of Humanity

Evolution of Humanity. How do we determine “progress” and “modernity”?. Remember Darwin?. Evolution – the change in the inherited characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

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Evolution of Humanity

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  1. Evolution of Humanity How do we determine “progress” and “modernity”?

  2. Remember Darwin? • Evolution – the change in the inherited characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. • Leads to speciation, or the development of new species (Though other elements are also invovled) • Natural Selection – traits that provide an advantage in reproductive success will be preferentially passed on over those that do not.

  3. Behavioral Modernity • A set of traits that distinguish present-day humans and their recent ancestors from other living primates and extinct hominids • What traits do you think would be the most important?

  4. The point at which homo sapiens start to demonstrate complex, symbolic thought and cultural creativity • Language • Finely made tools • Fishing • Long distance sharing/exchange between groups • Self ornamentation (jewelry, pigment, etc) • Figurative art • Game playing • Music • Cooking • Burial of dead

  5. The Behavioral B’s • Blades, beads, burials, bone tools, beauty • Invention is considered to be more advanced behavior than adoption – inventing new concepts, methods, etc. is believed to show higher intelligence than simply adopting the idea • We currently lack proof for a genetic connection to the capacity for/emergence of Behavioral Modernity

  6. Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH) • Members of Homo Sapiens who are visually consistent (phenotype) with modern humans • Sometimes also called Homo Sapiens Sapiens • Behaviorally Modern Humans (BMH) • Humans that demonstrate behavioral modernity. • **These are not the same thing**

  7. How did this suddenly happen?

  8. Theory 1: Great Leap Forward • Proponents argue around 50 kya in Africa and/or Europe, there was a sudden shift in cognitive ability • Earlier humans were behaviorally primitive, indistinguishable from extinct hominids • Critiques: • BMH emerge over 100 000 years after AMH; no genetic evidence for increased cognition in that timespan • No explanation for how this change might have happened

  9. Theory 2: Continuity Hypothesis • Proponents argue there is no single genetic or biological change to explain BHM • Emergence is the result of the evolution of society and learning • There is evidence of behavioral modernity as early as 250 kya, such as burial of grave goods, use of pigment, and heat in tool making • Rapid pace of cultural evolution due to climate pressure, population change • Also explains rapid change in modern era (Increased population increases chances of innovation)

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