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1. Prehistory: the Paleolithic Period
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Homo habilis
Height:
1.40-1.50 m
Brain size:
650-800 cm
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Dated:
2.5-1.5 million years
Their name comes from their ability
to make tools. They are the first
genus
Homo
hominids. The genus
Homo
hominids are so similar to
us that they are considered human
beings.
Homo sapiens
Height:
1.70-1.80 m
Brain size:
1500 cm
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Dated:
150000 B.C.-the
present day.
They spread from Africa across all
the continents. They developed
sophisticated tools and hunting
techniques. They are responsible
for the first works of art.
Homo
neanderthalensis
Height:
1.60-1.70 m
Brain size:
1500 cm
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Dated:
125000-30000 B.C.
They possessed great physical
strength and intelligence.
They used complex tool
making techniques and buried
their dead.
THE PROCESS OF HOMINISATION
Homo erectus
Height:
1.60-1.80 m
Brain size:
800-1000 cm
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Dated:
1.8-0.1 million
years
They perfected tool
making and learnt to use
fire. They spread from
Africa to Europe and
Asia.
Remember
1.
Look at the information about the evolution of
hominids.
a)
What happened to the size of their brain?
b)
Which hominid learned to make tools? Which was the
first to use fire?
Analyse
2.
Which change in the process of hominisation do you
think was the most important? Explain why.
3.
Why do you think walking upright was important in
the process of hominisation?
Apply
4.
The development of language is attributed to
changes in the larynx. What other change could it
be attributed to?
5.
Think about how natural selection works. Why do
you think that other species of hominids did not
survive but some species of less evolved primates,
such as gorillas, have?
