Evolution of man
History Lessons with Dr Manners Msongelwa
Evolution refers to the stages of development that man underwent. It is also the process of change from one stage to another. Chronologically that is in an orderly manner. There are two basic theories of human evolution or development and these theories have conflicting ideas concerning the origin or evolution of man.
Biblical theory
The theory ᴀsserts that man was created by God as noted in the book of Genesis. It argues that God created Adam and then Eve who became the mother of the universe. The theory is theoretical in nature as it only provides written evidence without other evidence like archaeology and oral sources.
The scientific theory
It was a theory put forward by Charles Darwin in his book тιтled The Origins of Species with the help of studies made by Mr Richard Leaky, an archaeologist. The theory argues that man developed slowly and stage by stage from a group of animals called apes. Subsequent stages of development followed until the man left his/her original way of using four legs like other animals and began to use two legs to stand upright and walk.
History as a subject believes in the availability of evidence to support the theory. Ample archaeological evidence supports the scientific theory making it a theory worth acceptable from a historical perspective. The theory also argues that the process of evolution took ten to twenty million years for it to be completed and this is supported by evidence recovered from archaeological remains discovered and studies made by archaeologists who study fossils (remains of the past). Radiocarbon dating has dated these fossils since 1958 to discover the rough age of anything that grew or existed. Historians believe in evolution because radiocarbon dating gives evidence of the ages to which evolution underwent its processes.
Evidence is shown by archaeologists’ reviews that human evolution took various stages over many centuries. Similarities between apes and human beings suggest that man was once from the family of apes/gorillas/baboons/chimpanzees. Basis of the scientific theory.
A theory propounded and written by Charles Darwin argues that people and apes came from the same ancestors.
Ramapithecus: It lived on Earth nine million years ago, Ramapithecus was shared by apes and people as their ancestor.
Hominids: Evidence of this creature was discovered in China and Algeria. Hominids are animals of the same biological family as human beings. Hominids are slightly the same in brain size as the apes.
Homo Erectus: These are presumed to be the first human beings. They were found in Tanzania at Olduvai Gorge which suggested that the first people to live on earth lived on the African continent. This explains why Africa is believed to be the cradle of mankind or the origin of people. In 1924 Professor Raymond Dart of Witwatersrand University in South Africa discovered a skull at Tung in the Cape Province. The skull was from a creature between man and apes. Such a link between people and apes concludes that people evolved from apes.
Zinjathropus: It was discovered in 1935 by archaeologist Dr Robert Broom, who discovered a skull of an old Australopithecus at Skerkfontein in South Africa.
In 1959 Dr Louis and Mary Leaky also discovered a skull of the Australopithecus Robustus at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania.
The Australopithecus-robustus existed at the same time as the homo-habilis about two million years ago. It had large grinding teeth suitable for vegetable eating.
Homo Habilis: It was discovered by Dr Leaky and his family. He described them as skillful human being with a large brain. It had meat-eating teeth and well-developed hands, it made stone tools. It had a large brain cavity averaging between 775cm³ and 1500cm³. It had the ability to walk upright.
Homo sapiens: It is said to be the modern fully developed man. It was discovered by Dr Louis Leaky at Lake Turkana in Kenya where a skull and more developed leg bones were noted. He developed a stooped modern way of walking and could make tools for specific roles.
Why Africa is the cradle of man? Cradle means the origins (where something came from or its point of origin). Most discoveries of human race were done and concluded in Africa.
Discoveries made at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania four million years in North East Africa are evidence (fact or facts) that the human race originated in Africa.
Changes in the colour of the human race were also a result of weather changes. Tool making and fire making also began in Africa. Physical changes in human development. Ability to think and work in groups. Ability to make tools that made work easier to carry out. Ability to speak or communicate sharing ideas or information. Development of gathering skills as well as hunting skills e.g. trapping.
Division of labour refers to the separation of roles between males and females/men and women.
Women gathered and in some cases helped men in setting up traps for animals.
Hunted and gathered foods were shared equally among the participants.
Dr Manners Msongelwa is the president of History Teachers of Zimbabwe and a history Teacher at Camelot College in Kwekwe.
