Question 1
Hominid refers to humans and their closer relatives that existed. The hominid evolution relates mostly to origin of and evolution of human beings. Evolution takes a lengthy process that led to the origin of human from their apelike ancestors. The scientific evidence portrays behavioral traits that indicate the origin of human beings from the apelike ancestors evolving over a long duration of time. Among the major behavioral traits relate to the bipedal nature that human beings developed over a long duration of time approximated as four million years.
Grouping of the known hominine, therefore, falls under the same class. Scientists and paleoanthropologists use the term hominid mostly to refer to human beings. The hominid species listing falls under the order of fossil record appearance. The divergence of the species attributes to the nature form of selection among the universe. Origin of the hominids and the divergence, therefore, remains controversial, but traces and confirmations of the origin specify speculation that guides learners and researchers. Science, therefore, deals with the topic of origins in a variety of means that pose explanations as well as answers that satisfy these assumptions.
Until today, the exact criteria for the hominid tribe remain unclear but include all species sharing close or more than 97% of the DNA with that of modern human. Consequently, the members of that family exhibit a language capacity or cultures that bond the families. The members of the group develop theory of mind that as well as mental state attribution. The human beings as members of the criterion develop that capacity in the age of about four to five years. That conception remains to be developed among the guerillas and chimpanzees. Although testing the ability of other members of the group remains yet to be approved, the similarities between these groups remain evident. Therefore, scientists classify these members as cousins satisfying that criteria as members of the same family.
Homo Neanderthal is the closest species to the Homo sapiens (the upright man) whose origin scientists attest to the Homo heidelbergensis ancestors. The homo heidelbergensis closeness to the human beings is evident with only a larger braincase as well as a flatter face than the older human species. The species lived under cold climate adopting a short and wide body signifying adaptation to heat conservation. The species had knowledge of using fire and wooden spears and routinely hunted large animals. The species also became the first to build shelters from wood and rock.
The homo Neanderthals coexisted with Homo sapiens at a period of the last ice age. They derived their name from the Neander valley in Germany where their specimens were found. The Neanderthals possess heavily built bodies. Those living in Western Europe possessed heavy physique probably as an adaptation to the cold conditions they lived. They averaged a height closer to that of the homo sapiens of around 168 centimeters. Scars found in their muscle attachment indicate they possessed heavy muscles. Comparison of DNA extracts of the Neanderthals with that of the modern man proves them as the direct ancestors of modern man.
The main difference between Neanderthals and the modern human lies in the skull features with an average cranial capacity being 1450cc larger. They consequently possess larger cheekbones as well as noses. The assumptions related to the larger nose relates to ensuring warming and moistening of cold air through the lungs. The other assumption relates to the nose acting like a radiator to lose generated heat while hunting.
The Homo sapiens (modern) possesses a smaller cranial capacity than the Neanderthals. Apart from the major differences between the two species smaller differences like brain capacity due to difference in body size. As evidenced by the modern man, men have larger brain capacities compared to women. However, the species presents a more advanced life setup compared to their earlier members.
Question 2
Impact of Neolithic Revolution on Human Health and Longevity
Neolithic revolution, also known as agricultural revolution refers to the wide-scale transition of human cultures. The cultures transited from hunting and gathering to human beings adopting settlement and agriculture. Neolithic revolution stands as the most important cultural development in the human history. Stone Age was the era that preceded Neolithic revolution. During the Stone Age period, human beings lived a nomadic way of life living in temporary shelters. During that period, human beings evolved and started utilizing their cognitive abilities in order to meet basic needs among them nutrition. Issues related to death also became a disruptive byproduct resulting from adaptive functions.
Comparison of life today with that experienced during Neolithic revolution shows significant differences. Neolithic revolution brought the aspect of human beings living in settled homes as opposed to temporally shelters experienced during the Stone Age. Other aspects brought by the revolution relates to an aspect of law to govern human behavior, understanding an individual’s culture among others. During the Stone Age, human beings had no laws to control them and people owned nothing in terms of land or property. Consequently, development of culture was difficult as a result of the nomadic way of life where one lived only with a few close family members.
In considering the human health and longevity impacted by Neolithic revolution, considering life expectancy of human beings during the Stone Age and after Neolithic revolution proves essential. Life expectancy relates to a statistical average number of years that human beings live. The major variations that affect life expectancy relate to health, diet as well as economic circumstances. Therefore, in examining the impact of Neolithic revolution in terms of human health and long levity, life expectancy becomes the major consideration.
Immediately after change of life from that of hunters and gatherers to agriculture, the human beings suffered. Those early Neolithic farmers possessed poor health as a result of changing from their roles to adopting an agriculture that posed heavier tasks compared to hunting and gathering. However, the health decline stayed shortly. As a result of facing challenges resulting from diseases and other health hazards arising from dense living, health measures developed. With increased ease of those environmental threats, life expectancy increased.
The average human being's life expectancy of human beings at the Stone age averaged to more than forty years. After Neolithic revolution, the average life expectancy increased and today it averages beyond seventy years in some economies. Increased life expectancy resulted from good nutrition and improvement of health facilities. Attaining of a settled way of life also played a significant role in improving human health and longevity. Increase in food production ensured enough food production. As a result of increased food production, human beings managed to store food for future consumption. The case was different with the Stone age era where food consumption occurred only after hunting and gathering. Therefore, attributing agriculture revolution to improved human health and longevity relates to increase in food production.
In conclusion, Neolithic revolution at first led to poor health among human beings at the beginning. Although it enhanced innovative measures to fight health and environmental hazards that affected human beings. Improved health measures and settled life ensured increased longevity of human beings compared to the earlier Stone Age life.
