Unit 2: EVOLUTION OF HUMANKIND
Key unit competence: To be able to analyse how humankind evolved,
developed and settled in different parts of Africa.
The earth planet was inhabited for the first time by humankind a few
million years ago. The scientific theory stipulates that the first forms
of human beings were assimilated to apes and the latter underwent
evolution so as to lead to the present forms of hominids. Explain the
evolution theory propounded by Charles Darwin.2.1. Origin of Humankind
By reading History book or use internet and carry out research on
the of mankind.
There are two theories explaining the human origin and evolution:
The creation theory/Biblical theory: This theory explains that humankind
was created by God, according to Genesis 1 and 2. God created man from
soil and later a woman from man’s rib (Adam and Eve). The two were
given responsibility to reproduce and fill the earth.
The scientific theory: The modern theory concerning the evolution
of humankind has a different view. It proposes that humans and apes
derived from an ape-like ancestor who is said to have undergone five
distinctive stages that are discussed below.The ape-like ancestor lived on earth a few million years ago. The theory
states that humankind emerged through a combination of environmentaland genetic factors.
Perhaps the most famous proponent of evolution theory was Charles
Darwin (1809-82). He authored The Origin of Species (1859) to describe
his theory of evolution. Since then, humankind’s origin has generally
been explained from an evolutionary perspective. Moreover, the theory
of man’s evolution has been and continues to be modified. New findings
are discovered and revisions to the theory are adopted.
1.Explain the creation theory of man.
2.-Describe the scientific theory of evolution of man.
2.2. Evolution of humans
By reading History book or use internet carry out research on the
evolution of humankind.
The evolution of man refers to the stages through which human beings
went through in order to become the present-day human beings.
Humankind evolution passed through the following five stages:• Australopithecus
• Homo habilis
• Homo erectus
• Homo sapiens• Homo sapiens sapiens
i) Australopithecus: lived between 3.9 and 3.0 million years ago. He
retained the apelike face with a sloping forehead. He had a ridge over the
eyes. He had flat nose, etc. The remains of Australopithecus were found in
Kenya.ii) Homo habilis: was also called The Handy Man because tools were
found with his fossil remains. He existed between 2.4 and 1.5 million years
ago. The brain shape shows evidence that some speech had developed.He was 5’ tall and weighed about 100 pounds.
iii) Homo erectus: lived between 1.8 million and 300,000 years ago.
Towards the end, his brain size was like that of modern human beings. He
definitely could speak, developed tools, weapons and fire. He also learned
to cook his own food. He developed clothing for northern climates. He
turned to hunting for his food. Only his head and face differed from those
of modern human beings.
iv) Homo sapiens: lived in Europe and in the Middle East between
150,000 and 35,000 years ago. His brain size averaged larger than modern
human being. His head was shaped differently, longer and lower. His nose
was large and extremely different from that of modern human beings in
structure.
He was a massive man, about 5’ 6” tall. He had a heavy skeleton, etcv)Homo sapiens sapiens (or modern man): he evolved in Africa and
migrated widely in the world. This species is estimated to have come
into existence about 200,000 years ago. Fossils of this species have been
found in Omo River Valley, north of Lake Turkana, Singa in Sudan and
Ngaloba in Tanzania. The brain of Homo sapiens sapiens resembled that
of modern man. He was more advanced in speech and technology
A number of sites excavated by popular archaeologists of the 20th Century
points to this. Dr Leakey worked in the 1960s and 1970s at a site called
Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania.
Archaeological evidence tells the fact that people in this era lived on
scavenged meat. They also ate wild plants. In short, they practised hunting
and gathering.
Dr Leakey’s works discovered other sites around Lake Turkana in northern
Kenya. The discoveries were largely similar to that of Olduvai Gorge.
Donald Johansson worked separately from Dr Leakey, a decade later in
northern Ethiopia. He found fossils that confirmed great human presence
in the region several thousand years before.The life and survival of early manThe evolution and culture of early man are often studied according to
stones ages. These were periods when tools were almost completely
made from stone. This grouping applies to Africa, south of the Sahara.
In North Africa, the Nile Valley, Europe and Asia, the applicable term is
Paleolithic, a Greek word meaning Old Stone. Production of tools marked
significant stages in mankind’s progress. The brain-hand-eye coordination
and control resulted in tools whose refinement has never ended. Various
species of early man manufactured them for different purposes.
Over time, man spread beyond the few identified spots originality. He
spread to other places on the continent and beyond to other continents.
This was influenced by climatic conditions as well as his search for food.
Also, man spread while escaping from dangerous animals that could eat
him.
It also happened as a result of purposeless wandering. Man kept on
moving in any direction without any specific point to return to. This is
because man was wild, without any element of domestication.
1. Justify the following assertion: “Africa is the cradle of humanity.”
2. Describe the characteristics of Homo Sapiens.
2.3. Discoveries made in stone age periodLearning Activity 2.3
By using internet or the History books in library to conduct research
on the stone age periods.Did you know?
Stones were used to carry out the activities you have mentioned
above.
Stone Age is a period that precedes History. It was the period when human
beings did not know how to read and write.
Pre-history is made up of three periods:• Early Stone Age (1,500,000-750,000 BC)
• Middle Stone Age (750,000-300,000 BC)
• Late Stone Age (300,000-50,000 BC)
Archaeologists and historians have referred to this period as Stone Age
Period. This is because major tools used at that time were made out of
stones.
Early Stone Age period (Palaeolithic)• During this period, man’s activities were hunting and gathering
food from forests.
• Man was living a wandering life and lived on trees.
• Man was shaping stones into double edged hand axe that was
used in hunting
The Middle Stone Age period (Mesolithic)
During this period, there was improved method of making shaped flakes
from bigger stones. The flakes became tools for cutting meat, scraping
skins and sharpening of weapons.•Man learnt to bind together stones into wooden handles which
was called hafting. They were able to make improved tools such as
ropes and poisoned arrows for hunting.
•Man invented fire and used it for roasting meat, warming himself
and scaring away wild animals.
• Man continued with food gathering, that is, collecting fruits, leaves,
stems and roots.
Man started keeping domestic animals such as dogs, cats and
goats.
• Man started living in caves and forming small families.
• Man invented fishhooks and canoes
We need to preserve and conserve ‘the country of a thousand hills’
because it is our heritage.Late Stone Age/Neolithic period
This is the period when human beings started making great changes.They improved their ways of life. It is characterised by the following:
• They started constructing small huts using grass, trees and skins.
• They settled in a permanent place and stopped wandering.
•They started putting on skins and woven clothes.
•They began farming in order to produce their own food. This
constitutes a revolution known as a Neolithic revolution.
•They used fertilisers and storage facilities.
•They started living in villages and forming communities.
• They increased domestication of several domestic animals such as
horses, cows, sheep and pigs.
•They started iron working and began using iron tools such as
machetes, hoes and knives. They used less stone tools.
•They started using better tools for hunting such as spears, arrows
and bows.
• They made rules and regulations to have law and order in thesocieties.
• They began to bury the dead in graves instead of leaving them to
rot on the ground.•They started exchanging items with other communities (trade).