HISTORY NOTES-FORM ONE TOPIC 2: EVOLUTION OF MAN, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

 

 

EVOLUTION OF MAN,  TECHNOLOGY  AND  ENVIRONMENT

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NOTES 1

Meaning of Evolution

- Evolution is gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form. 

- Evolution is the process by which an organism becomes more sophisticated over time and in response to its environment. 

- Evolution is the change in the characteristics of a species over several generations and relies on the process of natural selection. 

- Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.These characteristics are the expressions of genes that are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Different characteristics tend to exist within any given population as a result of mutation, genetic recombination and other sources of genetic variation 

Human evolution is the lengthy process of change by which people originated from apelike ancestors. Scientific evidence shows that the physical and behavioural traits shared by all people originated from apelike ancestors and evolved over a period of approximately six million years.

One of the earliest defining human traits, bipedalism, the ability to walk on two legs evolved over 4 million years ago. Other important human characteristics such as a large and complex brain, the ability to make and use tools, and the capacity for language developed more recently. Many advanced traits including complex symbolic expression, art, and elaborate cultural diversity emerged mainly during the past 100,000 years.

There are two major theories that try to explain the origin of man. These are theory of creation and the theory of evolution. In this topic we will study the theories of how man came to be, concentrating especially on the scientific theory of evolution.

1. THEORY OF CREATION

Such theory explains that there is super natural power that creates everything. This super natural power is God. Refer from the Holy Bible and Qur'an e.g from Biblical knowledge, (Genesis chapter 1:26) it says that:- God created man by using soil, at first they created a man and then later a woman. These two creatures established their relationship and this marked the beginning of human family.

Adam and Eve (The Theory of Creation)

2. THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION OF MAN

The story of human evolution began in Africa about six million years ago and it describes the very long process that our ancestors went through to ultimately become modern humans. This process has been uncovered by studying fossils and understanding the underlying theory of evolution, and while new fossils are uncovered every decade revealing new chapters, scientists agree about the basic story.

The theory of evolution of man was proposed by an English man known as Charles Darwin (1809 -  1882). The theory says that: - man’s species has been changing gradually from lower stage to better stage due to environment. Changing goes hand in hand with improvement of methods of obtaining food, cloth and shelter.The gradual change of man is called evolution.

The theory of evolution tries to explain the origin of man by describing the changes that our ancestors underwent until they were like modern man. The first man belong to the family of primates which included Ape, Gorilla, Monkey and Chimpanzee. These animals lived in the forest walking on four limbs and their bodies covered with hair. Because of environmental changes and diminishing of forests, they started to live in open grassland. The environment forced them to adopt new way of walking by using two limbs known as Bipedalism.

The Theory of Evolution

STAGES  OF  MAN’S  EVOLUTION

1. MODERN APES 

This is the first stage of man's evolution, it is sometimes called primates. It included  Gorilla, Monkey, and Chimpanzee.

- Their bodies were covered with lots of hair.

- They walked on four limbs

- They lived in dense forest.

- They had poorly mental abilities.

- They totally depended on nature eg. ate raw food

Chimpanzees

2. AUSTRALOPITHECUS AFRICAN FAMILY

This stage started about 12million years ago (B.C) when primates changed to near man. This stage divided into two

a) Zinjanthropus

b) Homo habilis

- Fore limbs were free from walking.

- Hind limbs were used for standing and body balance.

- Man started to design, make and use tools.

- Man become skillful.

Pictures of Zinjanthropus

- It lived between 1,500,000 and 750,000 BC.

- Homohabilis become more skillful man, because was systematic tools maker.

- Homohabilis believed to be the direct ancestor of modern man.

- He had bigger brain and he was more systematic tool maker.

- The skull of those creatures were discovered at Olduvai Gorge and omo in Eastern and Rudolf in Kenya.

Pictures of Homo Habilis

3. HOMO ERECTUS

  Characteristics

- Man was fully moving upright.

- He become more skillful tools maker than Homohabilis.

- It's fossils have been dug up in Olorgesaille and near Lake Turkana in the Kenya, Olduvai gorge in Tanzania.

Pictures of Homo Erectus

4. HOMO SAPIENS

    Characteristics

- He is a true man of today

- Has a large brain in size

- Has less thick jaws

- He was highly skillful man

- He made tools by using stones and bones.

Pictures of Homo Sapiens



                     

5. HOMO SAPIENS SAPIENS

Homo sapiens is a modern man.

Homo sapiens is believed to have evolved into Homo sapiens sapiens about 50,000 years ago. This man has a large brain and great intelligence.

NB: the theory of evolution has been supported by Archaeologist Dr. Leakey in Olduvai Gorge in 1959

Homo Sapiens Sapiens

Basic Characteristics of Human Evolution

1. Development of man’s ability to design, make and use tools.

2. Ability of man to walk on two limbs. (Bi-pedalism)

3. Ability of man to think.

4. Ability of man to domesticate plants and animals.

STONE  AGE

Stone age: This is historical period in which man made and used stone tools. Is a period based on man's economic activities and type of the tools used . eg, Stone age, Iron age, Science technology age etc.

Stone Age is divided into three ages

  1. Early or Old stone age.

  2. Middle stone age.

  3. Late or new stone age

1. EARLY OR OLD STONE AGE

This is the first period of stone age. It existed between 1,750,000 B.C and 750,000 B.C. Zinjanthropus- was the only man existed in this period. The early stone tools were pebbles, chopping, hammer stone, hand axe etc.

- killing and skinning animal flesh 

- Digging up roots

- Cutting tree branches

- For defense

Man obtained his food by hunting and gathering

In this period man had low ability to control his environment.

Early Stone Tools

Characteristics of Early or Old Stone Age

In East Africa stone age sites are found at Olorgasaille, Nsongezi and Olduvai.

1. Man lived primitive life depending on nature.

2. Man made and use crude (poor) tools.

3. Man lived by hunting and gathering.

4. Man ate raw food i.e meat

5. Man walked up right.

6. Man lived in caves.

7. Man did not wear clothes.

2. MIDDLE STONE AGE

This stage covered the period between 750,000BC to 50,000 BC.

This period man improved his stone tools.

Tools were -smaller, sharper and easier to handle.

Tools were spear, Arrows, Needles, Stone picks, Knives, projectile point and bone awls.

These tools were used for

- Digging up roots.

- Killing and skinning animals.

- Cuttings & chopping

Stone Tools

THE DISCOVERY OF FIRE

Fire was discovered by man who was scratching pieces of wood using his hands. The more he continued scratching, the pieces of wood got heat the smoke come out, the scratch caused friction of scratched wood and led to emission of fire.

Importance of Fire to Man

1. Man started to eat roasted food i.e meat

2. Man started to live in cold areas.

3. Man used fire to clean bushes.

4. Man used fire to provide light at night.

5. Fire used to kill small animals e.g rabbit

6. With fire man increased working hours .

7. Man use fire to attract prey.

8. Man used fire for defense from dangerous animals like lion.

Making Fire

General Characteristic of Middle Stone Age

1. Man discovered fire.

2. Man developed some religious beliefs.

3. Man started to live complex life.

4. Man’s main occupation were hunting and gathering, sedentary/ nomadic life

3. THE LATE STONE AGE (NEW STONE AGE)

In East Africa, late stone age started from around 50,000 BC to the first millennium AD. In this stage man used better tools compared to the previous stone ages. Tools become more sharper and smaller in size. Tools were stone exes, blades, spears, arrows, burin, bone harpoon point etc.

Man started permanent settlement. The tools were still largely made of stone but they were far better than those of earlier periods. This period marked the beginning of settled communities. In areas such as Kondoa Irangi, paintings and drawings in the carves proved this fact. The paintings and drawings show the shape of tools used and animal hunted.

Characteristics of the Late Stone Age

1. Man used better tools compare to the previous ages.

2. Man started to domesticated plant and animal.

3. Man become food producer.

4. Increase of population.

5. It was beginning of settled communities and villages.

6. This period marked to be primarily on division of labour.

Example: women become child bearers and cares while man for protecting the families and hunting Informal education started in this period.

Handles and Stone Hamers

IRON  AGE

Iron age is believed to have started during the first millennium A.D. This was the period when man made and used Iron tools. The discovery and use of iron improved man’s standard of living. Iron tools were discovered about 3000 years ago. The first people to make and use iron tools in Africa were the people of Ethiopia and Egypt. Iron skills and knowledge were not uniform or the same in Africa.

The first important towns for iron smelting were:

Meroe in Sudan

Axum in Ethiopia

Nok area in West Africa

In East Africa, it is believed that man started to use iron from the first millennium A.D E.g. Iron discovered earlier in Engaruka, Uvinza, Karagwe, Ugweno and Western shores of lake Victoria. Iron tools included iron spears, arrows, Axes, Hoes etc. Iron technology helped early African societies to produce and use iron tools.To produce better weapons for defense.

The Result of Using Iron Tools

1. It led to increase in food production. Man could now clear his areas for cultivation.

2. Increase in population due to more food.

3. There was emergence of specialization i.e. Iron workers (black smiths) and food producers.

4. It led to the emergence of complex villages / development of political organization as kingdom and states.

 

5. Tools were highly improved and more efficient

TOPIC 3: Development Of Economic Activities And Their Impact ...