Describe the evolution of humans, giving the brain capacity and main features of each stage.
How to lay out the answer. Follow the frame, then write it in your own words.
1 · Open with the trend. Human evolution shows a move to upright walking, larger brains, tool use and culture.
2 · Early primates. Dryopithecus (ape-like) and Ramapithecus (man-like), about 15 million years ago; upright man-like primates in East Africa 3 to 4 million years ago; Australopithecines about 2 million years ago with stone weapons.
3 · Homo habilis and Homo erectus.
Homo habilis: first hominid, 650 to 800 cc, probably no meat.
Homo erectus: about 1.5 million years ago, Java fossils, about 900 cc, probably ate meat.
4 · Neanderthal man. About 1400 cc; Near East and Central Asia; 1,00,000 to 40,000 years ago; hides, burial.
5 · Homo sapiens. Arose in Africa; modern humans in the ice age 75,000 to 10,000 years ago; cave art 18,000 years ago (Bhimbetka); agriculture 10,000 years ago.
6 · Show the sequence. [Flow chart: Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus, Australopithecines, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Neanderthal, Homo sapiens]
7 · Close in one line. So brain size grew from 650 cc to about 1400 cc as tools, diet and culture developed.
Scoring tip: Learn the three brain sizes and the two dates for Homo erectus and Neanderthal man. They are asked again and again as 1-mark items.
