BIOLOGICAL AND

CULTURAL EVOLUTION
FROM AUSTRALOPITHECUS TO HOMO SAPIENS
UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS
LEARNING COMPETENCY
Trace the biological and cultural evolution of early to modern
humans
explore the significance of human material remains and
artefactual evidence in interpreting cultural and social, including
political and economic, processes
recognize national, local, and specialized museums, and
archaeological and historical sites as venues to appreciate and
reflect on the complexities of biocultural and social evolution as
part of being and becoming human
WHY IS THERE A NEED TO STUDY THE PAST?
IS SURVIVAL A NECESSITY?
 EVOLUTION
noun
the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought
to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the
history of the earth.
the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a
more complex form.
EVOLUTION
It is a population level process guided by selection which
leads to an increase in adaptation of the population for the
environmental circumstances in which the population lives.
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.
CHARLES DARWIN
 “Species are not immutable, but
that those belonging to what are
called the same genera are lineal
descendants of some other and
generally extinct species, in the
same manner as the acknowledged
varieties of any other species”
CHARLES DARWIN

The theory of evolution by natural selection, first formulated in

Darwin's book "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, is the process by
which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable
physical or behavioral traits. Changes that allow an organism to
better adapt to its environment will help it survive and have more
offspring.
Natural Selection Three principles:

“It is the outcome of processes that

affect the frequencies of traits in a
particular environment. Traits that enhance
survival and reproductive success increase
in frequency over time.”
-Ember, Ember and Peregrine 2002
BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL EVOLUTION
BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
It refers to the changes, modifications, and variations in the genetics
and inherited traits of biological populations from one generation to
another.
It is the change in inherited traits over successive generations in
populations of organisms. The environment acts to promote
evolution through changes in development.
Based on the theory of evolution according to natural selection
WHAT ELEMENTS UNDERGO CHANGE UNDER
BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION?
ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER:
◦Physical body
◦Change in shape and size of bones and brain
◦Dentition
◦Fingers
◦Changes in posture
◦Movement or development
Cultural Evolution
-sociocultural evolution
- It refers to the changes or development in cultures from a simple
form to a more complex from of human culture.
Sources:
https://www.darwins-theory-of-evolution.com/
https://www.livescience.com/474-controversy-evolution-works.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/biological-evolution
https://www.studocu.com/en/document/harvard-university/introduction-to-
accounting/lecture-notes/looking-back-at-the-human-biocultural-and-social-
evolution/4906567/view