Human Evolution over the years: From Pre-History to Present

Human Evolution over the years

This blog post outlines main reflections about the evolution of humans, and human civilisation over the years.

Beyond any other

Out of all the species on earth, human evolution has been far richer, better and most advanced. From almost ten million years ago, with the emergence of first nomadic people in the paleolithic age, to the modern twenty-first century us, humans have evolved in a number of ways. Let’s look at some of the important ones:

 

1.     Capacity to Communicate, Evolution of Languages

Unlike other species, our development of brains gave us unique capacity to communicate with each other. Humans could pass on learnings, information and ideas across generations, with the evolution of languages, and use of visual, written and oral communication. 

 

While the paleolithic age species painted on caves with water, animal fat and coal (they had no languages or phones to use), today we have many methods to communicate and share feelings with each other  and many languages to express ourselves. Also, not to forget many types of media available to communicate. 

 

Humans are the only species that has passed on information across multi-generations, and this process has helped further advance the evolution process including development of science, math, medicine and many other disciplines that enable us to live better, longer and more evolved. 

2.     Domestication and Development of Agriculture

 

From being hunters and gatherers in the paleolithic age, humans started settling down towards the beginning of Neolithic era. Humans started settling down in groups, along water bodies and fertile plains. From eating flesh of animals and berries or wild fruit, humans now started cultivating cereals like wheat and pulses to satisfy their hunger. They also learnt to domesticate animals and constructed dwellings. In different ancient civilizations, humans learnt to use animals for other needs like travel, agriculture and food.

 

Agriculture today is quite modernized and we have even genetically engineered plants to suit our environment and needs. Human colonies have emerged into mega-cities like Mumbai, where millions live together. 

 

3.      Tapping Energy

 

Humans learnt to control fire, almost a million years ago. They used fire for cooking, keeping away animals. Then came the Neolithic man who invented the wheel and explored its uses. The various civilisations further used animals, carts and boats to travel short distances. Various civilizations also used energies in different forms as they discovered metallurgy, baking mud, bricks and using sun’s energy to dry grains and store them.

 

Since then, humans have invented so many things to tap and use energy -  right from the discovery of light bulb and electricity, to steam engines, that led to trains, motor-cars and other travel modes, to nuclear, and other renewable energy sources. By tapping energy, humans have been able to further improve their way of living, and meet daily needs. We can now travel to and from any corner of the earth in the smallest of times. 

 

 

4.      Clothes, Fabric, Fashion and Comfort 

Early humans wore animal skins during the paleolithic age. It was the Neolithic era, that humans invented fabrics from vegetable fiber and plant sources. Evidence has been found that people of ancient China, India and Egypt were spinning, weaving and dyeing cotton between 5000 and 3000 BC in the Neolithic and Metal ages. 

 

Further, in the various civilizations, people learnt to weave clothes from cotton, hemp, jute, etc. The clothes for men and women got separated. Also jewellery became an important part of dressing – from early shells, stone beads to later metal in the Neolithic age and more evolved jewellery in various civilizations, we see how it is today a social status.

 

Apart from these natural textiles, manmade synthetic fibres were invented only in the 1800’s, an today we have a variety of fabrics that are man made. Humans can now survive in different weather conditions, with added artificial skin i.e., garments and clothes. 

5.     Professions and Lifestyle

 

Humans in the Neolithic age only lived to hunt, gather food and thus were hunters and gatherers. In the Neolithic era, they evolved to become farmers, hunters and more settled people with families and small communities. They had simple lives and a very predictable lifestyle.

 

Then in the various civilizations, we have seen that the society was divided into many classes and professions – there were kings, nobles, priests, farmers, artisans, warriors and sculptors. These classes of hierarchy were highly organized and had their own rules to abide. Most societies and civilizations existed by themselves, without contact with other civilizations. They had a different lifestyle, with nobles and kings enjoying lavish lives and others working hard.

 

Today, we are an evolved society of numerous professions, and unlimited opportunity. We have different cultures and nationalities, with our own traditions and festivals. We are however, connected with the entire world. 

 

Our lifestyles are very different from our ancestors – we are faster, smarter and more knowledgeable than ever before. 

It’s Us - Most Evolved and Most Developed

 

As I can understand, as humans evolved – our ability to communicate due to development of language, manage food needs by agriculture, meet daily needs by tapping energy and managing comforts by inventing and utilizing appropriate clothing – have been the most important factors – keeping our species as amongst the most developed on this planet.