Darwinian Revolution
Pre-Darwin Belief
EVOLUTION is the change in characteristics of a species over several generations, relying on the idea
that all species are related and gradually change over time.
in the 18th century, theorization on the concept of evolution quietly came light in England and France,
to a small number of scientists, among them ERASMUS DARWIN, was a physician and a discreet
evolutionist. then called a transmutationist, who believed evolution occured in living things including
human.
ERASMUS DARWIN lacked the idea to what drove the change.
ZOONOMIA, OR THE LAWS OF ORGANIC LIFE contained his theories about evolution and suggested that
the Earth could have been much older that the timelines based on biblical origin.
ERASMUS writings later, served as CHARLES DARWIN SPRINGBOARD for his THEORY OF EVOLUTION
Darwin's Theory of Evolution
at the age of 16 Charles Darwin entered Edinburgh University to study medicine
Charles Darwin discovered his inclination towards the natural sciences
Darwin worked with transmutationist, ROBERT EDMOND GRANT was a radical evolutionist and
a follower of the French biologist. JEAN BAPTISTE LAMARCK
GRANT was accompanied by Darwin in collecting sea slugs and sea pens on seashores
Grant became Darwin mentor and taught him the growth and relationships of primitive marine
invertebrates. Darwin was influenced by PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS in the field of natural sciences.
ADAM SEDGWICK and DARWIN, in summer of 1931, traveled to Wales for geological research and
mapped the strata in the area.
JOHN STEVENS HENSLOW went to a voyage to TIERRA del FUEGO aboard HMS BEAGLE with CAPTAIN
ROBERT FITZROY… during their journey, DARWIN collected various specimens such as birds, plants,
and fossils… DARWIN was able to study the principles of botany, geology and zoology through close
observation, research and experimentation of such specimens
In 1836, DARWIN returned to England and wrote his findings in the JOURNAL OF RESEARCHES, which
was later published as part of ROBERT FITZROY’s narrative of the voyage entitled ZOOLOGY OF THE
VOYAGE OF THE HMS BEAGLE
The trip made an impact on Darwin’s view of natural history that URGED him to establish THEORIES on
the origin of living things that were radically different from the popular views of naturalist during his
time.
Darwin’s travel exposed him to different species of the world.
Darwin’s observations of the similarities of different species in different parts of the globe and their
variations in specific areas led him to believe that they evolved from common ancestors.
Darwin posited that species survived through “NATURAL SELECTION” a process where species that
adapt to the changing environment survive, where THOSE THAT DO NOT SIMPLY DIE OUT
Darwin published the book, ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES by MEANS OF NATURAL SELECTION
Darwin earned the title' FATHER of EVOLUTION
THE HUMAN LINEAGE
Australopithecus Afarencis (southern ape)
Age: lived between 3.9 and 2.8 million years ago
Located: South Africa
Discovered: 1970s
Physical Features:
1. Bipedal
2. Small brain
3. Sloping forehead
4. Pointed canine teeth
5. Long forearms
6. Short thigh bones
Culture:
1. Used sticks and stones
2. Eat meat and fruit
3. Lived on the ground and trees
4. Both ape and human
They are extinct.
Homo Habilis (handy man)
Age: lived between 2.4 and 1.4 million years ago
Located: eastern and southern africa
Discovered: 1960
Physical Features:
1. Small teeth
2. Small face
3. Large brain
4. Long arms
5. Short legs
6. Bipedal
Culture:
1. Both ape and human
2. Used stone tools
3. Eat leaves and woody plants (vegetarian)
4. Lived on grassland environment
They are extinct.
Homo Erectus (Upright Man)
Age: lived between 1.89 million and 110,000 years ago
Located: northern, eastern, southern africa, china and indonesia
Discovered: 1891
Physical Features:
1. Human-like body proportions (elongated legs and shorter arms)
2. Large brain
3. Tall bodies
4. Bipedal
Culture:
1. Eat meat, honey and underground tubers
2. Discovered fire and used it to cook food, to see at night, warming themselves and scaring beast
away
3. Used large cutting tools (handaxe and cleavers)
4. Lived in open forest
They are extinct.
Homo Neanderthalansis (Cave Men)
Age: 200,000 - 30,000 years ago
Located: Eurasia
Discovered: 1856
Physical Features:
1. Human-like body features (angled cheek bones, prominent brow ridges, wide noses)
2. Human-like body proportion (shorter)
3. Bipedal
Culture:
1. Buried their dead
2. Lived during the Ice Age inside caves
3. Controlled Fire
4. Used tools
They are extinct.
Homo Sapiens (wise man – archaic humans)
Homosapiens Sapiens (wise man - modern humans)
Homo sapiens sapiens is the sub-species that stems from Homo sapiens. This subspecies consists of only
modern humans. Homo sapiens sapiens is the scientific name for humans. So when did modern humans
first appear? This subspecies was first distinguished about 160,000 years ago in Africa. Then, based on
archeological findings, they apparently migrated to other continents, such as Asia, Europe, and the
Americas. However, there are archaic Homo sapiens who date back as far as 300,000 years ago.
Homo sapiens sapiens (H. sapiens sapiens) is the only subspecies of H. sapiens that exists. This is
because there are some key physical features and facts that cause H. sapiens sapiens to heavily differ
from the other H. sapiens. The early H. sapiens sapiens like the archaic H. sapiens were quite short.
They usually have long limbs and truncated bodies. Now, the modern human is on average 160cm and
175cm for females and males, respectively. The brains of H. sapiens sapiens make up about 2.2% of
their body weight, making it one of the largest brains to body ratios of all the Homo sapiens.
Homo sapiens sapiens were also heavily researched and studied because of their advancements in
technology over the years. Their use of fire, tools, clothing and even the levels of development in their
settlements and art have distinctly differentiated them from the other H. sapiens.
The modern human, unlike the oldest known human ancestors, now has a diet of both plants and meat.
Before, the oldest human would eat mainly plants and herbs, which of course due to their built took
much longer to digest and in turn, would require a longer digestive tract. As we developed into H.
sapiens sapiens, we evolved and began to have a diet containing more meat and cooking food as the fire
was discovered. This resulted in the H. sapiens sapiens body developing a shorter alimentary canal that
would process these foods easily and in a short time span.
Homo sapiens sapiens have also had a massive impact on the world today. We have taken animals
captive and domesticated them both for consumption and as protection and company. Now, about
one-quarter of the earth’s land is used to do agriculture. With a growing population, humans are
expected to be at least nine billion in number by 2042.
