prehistory Flashcards
prehistory
a period in history, when there was no writing
anthropogenesis
the process of evolution from primates into hominid family, also hominization
sapientation
learning to think and speak
bipedalism
using two legs to walk
gorilla brain size
500cm3
homo habilis brain size
800cm3
homo erectus brain size
900cm3
homo sapiens brain size
1200-1300 cm3
lengthened ontogeny
needed more time to become independent
results of evolution
spine s shaped, big toe aligned with other toes, arms shortened, reduced brow ridges, reduction of canine tooth, faster metabolism, thinking and speech, development of chin, loss of body hair, evolution of sweet glands, becoming omnivorous
principles of evolution by Charles Darwin
nature selection, adaptation, genetic drift
nature selection example
females search for the best males, predators hunt the weakest
genetic drift
independent process that produces random changes
species of genus homo
ramapithecus, australopithecus, homo habilis, homo erectus, homo sapiens, homo neandertalensis, homo sapiens sapiens
ramapithecus time
16-8 mil b.c.
australopithecus time
5-1,5 mil b.c.
homo erectus time
2 mil - 200000 b.c.
homo habilis time
2,5 - 1,5 mil b.c.
homo sapiens time
350000-40000 b.c
homo neandertalensis time
80000-50000 b.c.
homo sapiens sapiens
40000 b.c.-present times
start of the evolution
evidence found in the Great Rift Valley, Africa. Difficulty in knuckle walking - adapt to bipedalism. Predators abound - flight or fight. Scattered plants - change in diet
Australopithecus characteristics
similar to humans and apes, opposable thumb developed - picking up small objects, making tools, comparable brain size with a chimpanzee
australopithecus archaeological site
Tanzania - lake Olduvai
