This document summarizes the biological and cultural evolution of early humans from Australopithecus to Homo Sapiens. It describes biological evolution as genetic changes from generation to generation that are studied through physical remains. Cultural evolution refers to developments in human culture studied through analyses of ways of life. Key hominid groups discussed are Australopithecus, Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus, with Homo Sapiens emerging last. Traits like upright walking, increasing brain size, tool use and shelter building progressed over time.

1. Lesson 1: Biological andCultural
Evolution:
From Australopithecus to
Homo Sapiens

3. Biological Evolution
• It refers to the changes,
modifications, and
variations in the genetics
and inherited traits of
biological populations
from one generation to
another.
• Scientists study the
changes in the physical
body of humans, the
changes in the shape
and size of their bones.

4. Cultural Evolution
• It refers to the changes
or development in
cultures from a simple
form to a more complex
form of human culture.
• Scientist study the
cultural evolution of
humans by analyzing
the changes in the
latter’s way of life.

6. • The evolution of species happens through
the process of natural selection.
• The reason for occurrence of evolution.
• The outcome processes that affect the
frequencies of traits in a particular
environment. Traits that enhance survival
and reproductive success increase in
frequency over time.

7. • Every species is made up of a variety
of individuals wherein some are
adopted to their environments
compared to others
Variations

8. • Organisms produce progeny with
different sets of traits that can inherited
• Organisms that have traits most
suitable to their environment will
survive and transfer these variations to
their offspring in subsequent
generations
Heritability
Differential reproductive success

11. • The general term used to categorize the
group of early humans and other
humanlike creatures that can walk
erect during the prehistoric period.
HOMINIDS

12. Four Categories of Hominids
1. Sahelanthropus
2. Ardipithecus
3. Australopithecus
4. HOMO

13. • It had both apelike and
humanlike characteristics:
1. A skull similar to
Australopithecus and modern
human.
2. Height almost similar with the
chimpanzee
3. Brain size: 320-380 cc
4. Small teeth
5. Had the ability to walk upright
1. Sahelanthropus tchadensis
6-7 million years ago

14. Orrorin
tugenensis
5.7 million years ago
Ardipithecus
5.6 million years ago

15. “ape on the ground”Ardipithecus
Ardipithecus
Kadabba
Ardipithecus
Ramidus

16. • 1. height about 4 feet
• 2. weight about 120 pounds
• 3. skull size similar to an ape
• 4. Small brain
• 5. Biped
• 6. lived in jungles and forests like chimpanzees

17. (5 million- 1million
years ago)
“the Southern Ape”
3.Australopithecus

18. Characteristics
1. Brain size: 500 cc or almost 1/3 size of the
modern human brain
2. Upright
3. Biped
4. Tool users not tool makers
5. Food scavengers

19. • There are 6 species of the Australopithecus
and they are divided into two major
categories:

20. Gracile Australophitecus

21. -Australophitecus afarensis

22. Australophitecus anamensis

23. -Australophitecus africanus

24. Australopithecus
Afarensis
Considered as one of modern human’s earliest ancestors and
remains as the most famous hominid fossil discovered

25. Robust Australophitecus

26. Australophitecus aethiopicus

27. Australophitecus robustus

28. Australophitecus boisei

29. HOMO
• They are classified as humans and not
humanlike creatures because they had bigger
brains and were bipedal

30. HOMO HABILIS
• 3-4 FEET
• Brain size: 700 cc

32. HOMO ERECTUS
• Large Brain size:
1,000cc
• Lived in shelters
• Food gatherers
• Crafted materials

33. Peking Man

34. HOMO SAPIENS
• . • Cro - MagnonHomo sapiens
Neanderthalensis