The evolution of human speech was a slow and gradual process that was driven by natural selection. About 5 million years ago a mutated gene gave our human ancestors a small edge with communication. Over time humans communication skills grew better, with better communication skills humans were able to cooperate better and work together better. Better communication gave humans a competitive edge against there predators and rivals. The humans that communicated the best usually survived to pass on there genes.
As the Millennia passed humans mouths and throats slowly altered, and they gained more control over there tongue. By 2 million years ago Homo erectus (our ancestors) had developed the brains and ability for crude speech. By 300,000 years ago Neanderthals (now extinct) had the ability to do much better then Homo erectus. It was not until about 100,000 years ago with Homo sapiens that the first modern vocal tracks appeared.
At the same time that humans were developing speech our brain sizes almost tripled which allowed for more complex thought. With more complex thought humans developed larger social groups, more sophisticated collaborations, and started developing tools. Those equipped with higher skills survived and passed their genes on. It was our brains not our strength that helped us survive and out last the Neanderthals and Homo erectus.
Faye Flam describes how humans all evolved from the same species. We all can all be link to an African woman thousand of years ago. She described how in the 18th scientist broke people down into 5 races: White, Black, Brown, Yellow, and Red. Distinct traits and behaviors were given to each race. Racial stereotypes developed from these “pre - determined” traits assigned to people based on their skin color.
These views developed in the 18th stuck around. Even in present day people hold on to these out dated and down right wrong views. The views developed in the 18th century caused Europeans to believe that the white race was the best and every other race was inferior.
It was not until the late 20th century, with sciences increased understanding of DNA and genetics have people started to realize that everyone is from the same place. DNA and genetics tell us that all humans from the same origin. Differences in skin color just developed over time through natural selection and adaptation. A persons skin color has nothing to do with how smart they are or they will behave.
Dunstan goes into great detail about how humans evolved and how are culture developed. There are many conflicting theories and views on how humans came around. Dunstan talks about how in 1859 Darwin introduced his theory of evolution. Darwin stated that the organisms best adapted to their environment are more likely to reproduce and pass on there favorable traits. In 1871 Darwin published The Decent of Man and completed his theory by describing the evolution of man. Although scientist have not complete a complete fossil record of Human evolution, the evidence supporting evolution is overwhelming.
Rival theories have developed on the evolution of humans. One group of scientist believe that Homo erectus migrated from Africa and populated the entire old world and laid the foundation for further evolution. Followers of this view say that Homo erectus in different geographical areas evolved differently in each region.
The other group says that we evolved from archaic Homo sapiens but only in Africa. Only after Homo sapiens evolved in Africa did they migrate and populate the world. People, believing this, say that we are all descendents of a primeval African woman.
Dunstan defines culture as the pattern of learned values, behaviors, and beliefs. Each culture is unique and has its own traits and characteristics. The cultures of our early ancestors arose, expanded, and declined. Cultures pass on traits and traditions as they were absorbed by new ones. Culture developed when humans started hunting, making tools, working together, and developing abstract thought. Humans started developing beliefs to explain the world around them; people started developing language and art. All these developments help build the early cultures of us humans.
Dunstan explains that there are many differing theories concerning evolution and the development of early human culture. Only time will reveal more facts to us. As people uncover more artifacts, more information will become available. Anyone of the theories out there could be right, we will just have to look at the information we have decide what makes sense to us.
