Maharashtra Board Class 5 EVS Part II Chapter 5 Evolution of Mankind PDF Download

Evolution Of Mankind

5.1 From Homo habilis to Homo sapiens

In the previous lesson, we learnt that the primitive man evolved from apes. The next step for humans was learning to use their hands effectively to make tools.

The Skilled Human

The species of humans who could use their hands skilfully is known as 'the skilled human'. The first evidence of this species was found in the border region between Tanzania and Kenya in the continent of Africa. The scientist Louis Leuckey, who discovered this species, named it Homo habilis because beside their fossilized remains, he found some tools made by them. In Latin, 'homo' means man, and 'habilis' means 'the one who uses his hands skilfully'.

Homo habilis could stand on two feet and walk. His spine was slightly bent and not quite erect. His brain was bigger than that of the apes, although his face and limbs were somewhat similar to theirs.

The stone tools made by Homo habilis were not useful for hunting big animals. They had limited uses such as scraping meat from the skin of dead animals or breaking bones to get the marrow. We can infer from this that Homo habilis was a forager. He ate the leftovers of animals that had been hunted by other animals. It is possible that he hunted small animals and gathered eggs, wild fruits and roots to eat.

Homo erectus

Homo erectus marks an important stage in human evolution. 'Erectus' means 'the one who stands erect', hence the name Homo erectus. Compared to Homo habilis, he had a more developed brain. Humans of the Homo erectus species lived in groups.

Having seen wildfires, humans knew about fire. It is likely that Homo erectus had learnt the technique of fetching the burning branches of trees to use that fire. During his time, most of the earth was covered with ice sheets. Therefore, the climate was extremely cold.

Teacher's Note

Homo habilis means the person who can use his hands well. Just like our hands help us to write, draw and play, ancient humans used their hands to make tools for hunting and eating.

Exam Trick

Remember: Homo = man. Habilis = skilful hands. So Homo habilis = man with skilful hands. This helps you remember what makes them different from apes.

Points to Remember

Homo habilis could stand on two feet and walk like humans.
He used stone tools for scraping meat and breaking bones.
He was a forager who ate left over food from other animals.
Homo erectus had a bigger brain than Homo habilis.
Homo erectus lived in groups and knew how to use fire.

Homo erectus could survive in that extremely cold climate because he had learnt to use fire. However, he had not yet mastered the technique of making fire.

Tools made by the Homo erectus were more developed and symmetrical compared to those made by Homo habilis. Homo erectus made tools like the hand-axe. Remains of Homo erectus have been found along with his tools in the continents of Africa, Asia and Europe.

Homo Neanderthalensis (Neanderthal Man)

One more stage of development in human evolution is Homo Neanderthalensis. He was physically big and strong. He is commonly known as the Neanderthal Man because his remains were first found at Neanderthal, a place in Germany. His brain was more developed than that of Homo erectus.

The Neanderthals primarily lived in caves. They made tools out of big pebbles as well as from the flakes scraped off from them. Such tools were fixed on a bone or wooden shaft to make weapons like the spear, axe, etc. The Neanderthals hunted big animals. They used scrapers made from stone flakes to scrape meat from the hide of dead animals. They used leather clothing. They were mainly meat eaters. They ate meat roasted on fire. They knew the art of making fire by rubbing sticks of hard wood on each other or by striking one flintstone on another to obtain sparks.

Teacher's Note

Neanderthals lived in caves and made better tools than earlier humans. In India, our ancestors also lived in caves long ago, just like these ancient people.

Exam Trick

Remember: Neanderthals lived in CAVES and made BETTER TOOLS. They could make fire by striking flint stones. Think of cave + fire = survival in cold.

Points to Remember

Neanderthals had a bigger and more developed brain than Homo erectus.
They lived in caves and made tools from pebbles and stone flakes.
They hunted big animals and ate meat roasted on fire.
They could make fire by rubbing wood or striking flint stones.
They made weapons like spears and axes by fixing stone tools on wooden shafts.

It is likely that the Neanderthals had developed some artistic skills. Some scientists believe that they also communicated with each other by producing grunts and other primary sounds. However, it is not known whether they had a developed language system to express their thoughts with the help of words.

When a member of the group died, the Neanderthals buried tools, horns, etc. along with the dead body. Also, they applied red ochre to the dead body before burying it. It indicates that the Neanderthals had established some rituals of burying the dead.

In the course of time, some groups of Neanderthals left Africa and migrated up to the continents of Europe and Asia. Naturally, they had to face a different environment. They had to adopt new ways of living and finding food. Therefore, they went on modifying and improving the tools that were essential in their life. However, the improvements in tools took place over thousands of years.

'Homo sapiens' is the name used for humans that were more advanced than the Neanderthals. 'Homo sapiens' means Intelligent or Intellectual Man. We shall learn more about him later. The Neanderthals and the Homo sapiens were neighbours for some time in Europe. It is believed that due to reasons like their conflict with Homo sapiens and inability to adapt to environmental changes, the Neanderthals become extinct. On the basis of C-14 dating, it is estimated that the Neanderthals become extinct about 30,000 years ago.

Homo sapiens

The human species that was more intelligent than any of the earlier species was named 'Homo sapiens'. In Europe Homo sapiens is also known as 'Cro-Magnon Man'. Their remains have been found in the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa.

Homo sapiens made different kinds of tools and implements to suit the tasks they needed to do. They used to make stone blades and fix them in grooves and notches made in wood or bone handles.

Homo sapiens had evolved to the stage of having a fully developed larynx which could produce a range of sounds with subtle differences. Their jaws and the muscles inside the mouth were well-developed and the tongue was flexible. Hence, Homo sapiens could use them to produce a variety of sounds and modulate his voice the way he liked. Using his imagination, he could give names to the different things he saw and could put his thoughts and feelings into words. Using these words, he could speak and communicate. In short, he had a well-developed language system. He could draw pictures on the basis of actual observation as well as imagination. He even began to make artistic objects. That is why, he has been named 'Homo sapiens', i.e., 'Intelligent Man' or 'Thinking Man'.

Teacher's Note

Homo sapiens means intelligent humans who could think, speak and make art. Modern humans today are Homo sapiens sapiens, just like how you are able to read, write and create new ideas.

Exam Trick

Remember: Homo sapiens = Intelligent Man. They had a flexible tongue and could make many sounds = developed language. They could draw and make art = intelligent and creative.

Points to Remember

Homo sapiens had a well-developed larynx and tongue for making different sounds.
They could speak, communicate and express feelings through words.
They could draw pictures based on observation and imagination.
They made stone blades and fixed them in bone or wood handles.
They were more intelligent than all earlier human species.

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