I.

CRITICAL THINKING

1. How would you describe the relationship of biological evolution and cultural
evolution?

Biological evolution and cultural evolution somehow complement each

other since the emergence of development in one faculty of evolution may be
dependent on the other. For instance, the emergence of complex forms of human
culture, as qualified in cultural evolution, may be brought due to the development
of man’s biological characteristics which may include an improvement in cognition
and thought development. Complementing the other, biological traits may change
due to the sense of adaptation which may be brought by changes in one’s cultural
orientation like how the group is organized and what human faculties are utilized
in such organization.

2. Why are fossils and artifacts important in the study of biological and cultural
evolution?

Fossils and artifacts are remnants or “pieces of heritage” which may

contribute to known information in biological and cultural evolution. One may infer
and provide for conclusions on how man lived in his early years and through a
comparative observation of fossils and artifacts, considering the qualities of each
and how they have changed through time. Hence, conclusions about a certain period
or stage or proposition in biological and cultural evolution may only be certified by
the excavation of fossils and artifacts and its careful study.

3. Comparing and contrasting hominids

Species Physical / Biological
Characteristics
Australopithecus brain size of 500 cubic
centimeters or 1/3 of the modern
human brain
has an upright stance
bipedal in movement
Generally ape-like features
Ardipithecus Height of about 4 feet
Weight of about 120 pounds
Skull size similar to an ape
Small brain
Bipedal in movement
Homo erectus Brain of 1000 cubic centimeters
or 2/3 of the modern human
brain
Height of about 5 feet
Upright stance
Cultural Developments
Lived in small social
groups
Organized enough to be
food scavengers
Lived in jungles and
forests similar to groups
of chimpanzees
More intelligent than the
Homo habilis
Developed technologies
according to their needs
Made axe tools
Used fire and lived in
caves
 Homo habilis Height of about 3 to 4 feet
Brain size half of the modern
human
Homo sapiens Large brain size which is almost
similar to the modern human
brain
Biologically mature
Made tools called
Oldowan for cutting
Organized enough to
have tools for hunting
and good gathering
Lived in shelters and
were food gatherers
Hunted for animals
Used fire and crafted
metals
Organized to learn skills
on gathering and
cooking

4. How would you explain the role of museums in understanding the biological,
cultural, and social evolution of modern man?

As museums are institutions that house, preserve, protect, and study the
relevance and nature of fossils and artifacts, they become centers for studying the
biological, cultural, and social evolution of the modern man since one can have
direct observation from the primary source of information regarding that matter.

5. Explain the important economic, cultural, and social developments in the following
stages of society:

a. Pastoralist

Pastoralist societies have animal domestication as a means of

subsistence. This provides for their livelihood of being animal herders who
engage in small-scale trading among other groups. They are also
semisedentary since they do not stay in one place permanently.

b. Hunting and Gathering

Hunting and gathering societies have the most basic means of

subsistence which is hunting and gathering using simple form of tools. In
terms of societal organization, men are tasked with hunting animals whereas
women are tasked with collection of vegetation.

Since they are hunters and gatherers, they do not have a permanent
settlement because they are nomadic with respect to their needs. However,
they still lived in small groups of 20 – 30 depending on food available.

c. Industrial

Industrial societies are known for the new sources of energy that
were harnessed and for the advanced forms of technology. This prompted a
 shift from agricultural to industrial forms of livelihood. At this time, people
flocked and lived in urban centers.

d. Agricultural

Agricultural communities were able to cultivate wheat, barley, peas,

rice, and millet and began to farm and domesticate animals as a form of
subsistence. This led to development in irrigation and early agricultural
technology. There was a rapid growth in population where people actively
involved in agricultural activities were prompted to settle permanently in
their respective communities.

6. Legacies of Theories and Concepts

a. Theory of Evolution
The theory of evolution opened the discussion of many possibilities and
other theories with regard to the origin of man and the communities around
us. It comprehended the discussion, not limiting origin to religion.

b. Neolithic Revolution
Early yet advanced tools in the Neolithic revolution prompted further
development in the organization of households and general whole of
society, eventually leading to the evolution of communities.

c. Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution prompted the emergence of other forms of social
sciences like sociology to the faculties through the careful emergence of
new social patterns, appropriate to the time.

d. Homo erectus
The study on the Homo erectus allowed us to have comprehensive insights
on the evolution of man and how knowledgeable our ancestors were with
respect to answering to their basic needs as qualified by their developing
biological characteristics.

e. The Australopithecus afarensis fossil Lucy

The discovery and study of Lucy provided for proving the presence of our
earliest ancestors which further advanced the concept of evolution, linking
one specie to the other in the line of evolution – providing for the developing
emergence of patterns based on characteristics.