Origin and Evolution of Man: History, Evolution and Sample Questions

Origin and Evolution of Man refer to the genesis and development of mankind. For a long time, people believed that man was created by a supernatural force. Human evolution has been revealed through fossils, morphological, physiological, and embryological research. The most renowned species on the planet, Homo sapiens, is the consequence of almost 7 million years of evolution. In the order Primate, man belongs to the family Hominidae. Apes that are similar to humans are classified as members of the same order. 

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Keyterms: Origin, Evolution, Fossils, Homo sapiens, Planet, Hominidae, Organism, Homo erectus, Anthropoids, Parapithecus, Propliopithecus

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History of Mankind

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Modern humans are known as Homo sapiens (or "wise man" in Latin). Although the human species is the sole living species of the genus Homo, our origins have long been a source of controversy. We developed from their most likely recent common ancestor, Homo erectus, which means "upright man" in Latin, in the last 200,000 years on the African continent. It was a human species that existed between 1.9 million and 135,000 years ago and is now extinct. The intricacies of human evolution are still up for contention, as the fossil evidence for many of our forefathers is sketchy. In reality, an evolutionary bush would be a more realistic parallel than the human evolution tree.

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Evolution of Humankind

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The evolution process entails a sequence of changes that lead a species to adapt to its surroundings or go extinct. Evolution occurs when human genetic material changes. It affects the complete group of creatures belonging to the same species, rather than a single organism.

The first anthropoids, including Parapithecus, Propliopithecus, and others, were discovered in the Oligocene bed of Egypt, evidenced by the remnants of jaws. Anthropoid fossils from the Miocene epoch reveal a great deal of variation, with some having pre-human characteristics. They might have developed into the human line, as well as other lines that lead to the big apes. It is believed that Dryopithecus, an anthropoid fossil, stands close to the point of divergence.

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Primitive Hominids

The discovery of archaic species and races will provide insight into human evolution. The following are the principal forms that have been recorded to date:

These hominids' bones (Australopithecus, Zinjanthropus, and others) were discovered in the Mid-Pleistocene or earlier in the Transvaal, South Africa, in 1925, and in the Olduvai Gorge, Tanganyika, in 1959. A large number of skulls and skeleton pieces have been unearthed.

Characteristics:

1. Compared to a modern man, the skull was smaller.
2. The brain's volume was 600-700 cubic centimetres.
3. The forehead was higher than that of apes, and the face was protruding.
4. There were prominent brow ridges.
5. The occipital condyles were positioned on the ventral side of the skull, and the back of the skull was rounded.
6. With short incisors, big and spatulate canines, and huge cheek teeth, the jaws were enormous.
7. The pelvic ilia were broader, and the limb bones were thin.
8. It was around 5 feet tall in all. Simple chipped pebble tools were used.

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Pithecanthropus Erectus - Java Man

Between 1891 and 1945, Pithecanthropus erectus fossils were unearthed in Trimil, Java.

Characteristics:

1. A flattish-topped skull with a protruding back.
2. Above the orbits, the brow ridges were solid.
3. The brain volume ranged from 775 to 900 cubic centimetres.
4. The ability to speak was shown by the brain imprint.
5. Jaws protruded from the body, teeth aligned in an equal curvature.
6. The teeth were in a uniform curvature, although the canines protruded.
7. The upright posture was mirrored in the femur.
8. It was around 5 feet tall. There were no tools that were discovered to go with it.

Pithecanthropus (Sinanthropus) pekinensis — Peking man

Up to 1943, the Mid-Pleistocene caves in Choukoutien (South-west of Peking), China, yielded the remains of skulls and parts, jaws with teeth, and some limb bones of Pithecanthropus (Sinanthropus) pekinensis.

Characteristics:

1. The skull was tiny, and the brain capacity ranged from 850 to 1300 cubic centimetres.
2. The skull had a low-vaulted shape to it.
3. The brow ridges were thick and pronounced.
4. The capacity to speak was suggested by the imprint of the brain.
5. Several quartzes and other rocks were unearthed. The usage of fire was evident in the hearths.

Homo Habilis-Transitional Man

In East Africa's Pleistocene bed, the bones of the transitional man were uncovered. 

• They made coarsely chipped stone implements. 
• Between Australopithecus and Pithecanthropus erectus, this human species marks an intermediary stage. 
• The average brain volume was 680 cubic centimetres.

Homo Heidelbergensis-Heidelberg Man

In a sandpit in Heidelberg (Germany), one lower jaw of Homo heidelbergensis was unearthed in 1907. 

• The skeletons were from the mid-Pleistocene epoch. 
• The jaw was enormous, with a wide ascending ramus that indicated strong jaw muscles. 
• There was no chin to be found. 
• They also possessed strong teeth with no enlargement of the canines. 
• There were no associated tools found.

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Homo neanderthalensis—Neanderthal man

From 1848 to 1861, the bones of Homo neanderthalensis were discovered in a late Pleistocene bed (before or during the first Ice Age) in Spain and North Africa, Ethiopia, Mesopotamia, Southern Russia, Gibraltar, and the Neanderthal Valley near Dusseldorf (Germany).

Characteristics:

1. A large, flat-topped skull.
2. The forehead was drooping downward.
3. The brow ridges were quite prominent.
4. The nostrils were large.
5. The orbits had a considerable size.
6. The average volume of the brain was 1450 cubic centimetres.
7. The jaws were enlarging, while the chin was shrinking.
8. There were a lot of teeth.
9. The presence of robust neck muscles was indicated by the attachment sites of the occipital portion of the skull and the cervical vertebrae.
10. The limb bones were thick and bent somewhat.
11. Males stood around 5 feet 3-5 inches tall.

Females were noticeably shorter than men. The Neanderthals utilised stone tools and weapons to live in caves and rock shelters. There were signs of fire being used. The age was believed to be around 100,000 years.

Homo sapiens – Cro- Magnon Man

The bones of a Cro-Magnon man, believed to be between 30,000 and 13,000 years old, were discovered in the late Pleistocene (near to the end of the last Ice Age and later) bed of France, Czechoslovakia, East Africa, and Eastern Asia.

Characteristics:

1. There were no brow ridges on the long, high skull.
2. The face had the appearance of a modern man.
3. The skull's occipital area was rounded.
4. The chin was well-proportioned.
5. The average brain capacity was 1590 cubic centimetres.
6. Males stood around 5 feet 10 inches tall.

They lived in caves. They possessed stone tools and were able to create wall murals and sculptures.

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Biological Trends in Human Evolution

The following key developments occur in man's evolution:

1. Change from apes' four-footed walk to man's bipedal gait.
2. Tool-making perfection of the hand.
3. Increased IQ and brain size.
4. Switching from hard fruits, nuts, and roots to softer meals.
5. Improvement in their capacity to communicate with others, as well as the development of communal behaviour.

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Things to Remember

• Dryopithecus: It is the first known human ancestor. They were discovered in Africa, Asia, and Europe, among other places. From him, man's evolution started. Australopithecus came after Dryopethicus.
• Australopithecus: These 1.2-metre-tall apes were able to walk erect. They lived on the continent of Africa. They possessed human-like teeth and big jaws.
• Homo habilis: They stood five feet tall and were capable of using tools. They were thought to be able to communicate.
• Homo erectus: It was a highly advanced species. They were also taller and had bigger brains. They gave a powerful speech. They were carnivores who invented fire.
• Homo sapiens: Modern men are known as Homo sapiens. They honed their cognitive skills, employed tools, ate omnivorously, and created art. Their brain volume shrank to 1300 cubic centimetres.

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