Scientists have not been able to come to a consensus onthe one who is the ancestors of people, the debate in scientific circles has been going on for more than a century. The most popular is the evolutionary theory proposed by the famous Charles Darwin. Taking for the truth the fact that a person is a "descendant" of an anthropoid ape, it is interesting to trace the main stages of evolution.
As already mentioned, most scientiststends to agree with the evolutionary version that explains the origin of man. The ancestors of people, if you rely on this theory, are the great apes. The process of transformation took over 30 million years, the exact figure was not established.
The founder of the theory is Charles Darwin, who lived in the 19th century. It is based on such factors as natural selection, struggle for existence, hereditary variability.
Parapithecus is a common ancestor of man and monkey. Presumably these animals inhabited the land 35 million years ago. It is these ancient primates that at the present time are considered the initial link in the evolution of anthropoid apes. Driopithecines, gibbons and orangutans are their "descendants".
Unfortunately, scientists know about ancient primateslittle, the data is obtained due to paleontological finds. It was established that tree monkeys preferred to settle on trees or open spaces.
Driopithecus is an ancient ancestor of man,occurred, if you rely on the available data, from the parapita. The time of appearance of these animals is not exactly established, scientists suggest that it happened about 18 million years ago. Semi-earth monkeys gave rise to gorillas, chimpanzees and Australopithecus.
To establish that driopithecus may be calledancestor of modern man, the study of the structure of the teeth and jaw of an animal helped. The material for the study was the remains found in France in 1856. It is known that the brush of the diapithecines allowed them to grab and hold objects, and also throw them. Settled anthropoid apes predominantly on trees, preferred a herd lifestyle (protection from predator attacks). Their food was mainly fruit and berries, which is confirmed by a thin layer of enamel on the molars.
Australopithecus - highly developed ape-likeThe ancestor of man, who inhabited the earth supposedly about 5 million years ago. Monkeys used to move their hind legs, walked in a semi-rectified position. The growth of the average australopithecus was 130-140 cm, there were also higher or lower individuals. Body weight also differed - from 20 to 50 kg. It was possible to establish and the volume of the brain, which was about 600 cubic centimeters, this figure is higher than that of the great apes that live in our days.
It is obvious that the transition to directness led torelease hands. Gradually, human predecessors began to master primitive tools used to fight enemies, hunting, but they had not yet begun to produce them. Stones, sticks, and animal bones acted as tools. Australopithecus preferred to settle in groups, as this helped to effectively defend themselves against enemies. Nutritional preferences were different, in the course were not only fruits and berries, but also animal meat.
Outwardly the australopithecines looked more like monkeys than people. Their bodies had a thick hairline.
A man of skill externally did not differ fromAustralopithecus, but significantly exceeded it in development. It is believed that the first representative of the human race appeared about two million years ago. For the first time the remains of Homo habilis were found in Tanzania, it happened in 1959. The volume of the brain, which a skilled man possessed, exceeded the australopithecine indices (the difference was approximately 100 cubic centimeters). The growth of the average individual did not exceed 150 cm.
Its name is the descendants of Australopithecusdeserved in the first place for the fact that they began to produce primitive tools. Products were mostly stone, used during hunting. It was possible to establish that meat was constantly present in the diet of a man of skill. The study of the biological features of the brain allowed scientists to assume the probability of speech rudiments, but this theory was not directly confirmed.
The settlement of this species occurred approximatelymillion years ago, the remains of a right-browing man found in Asia, Europe, Africa. The brain volume, which had representatives of Homo erectus, was up to 1100 cubic centimeters. They were already able to make sounds, but these sounds were still inarticulate.
Homo erectus is known primarilythe fact that he excelled in collective activity, which contributed to the increased volume of the brain in comparison with previous stages of evolution. The ancestors of people successfully hunted large animals, learned how to obtain fire, as evidenced by the heaps of charcoal found in caves, as well as charred bones.
Homo erectus possessed the same height asand a man of skill, distinguished by the archaic structure of the skull (low frontal bone, chamfered chin). Until recently, scientists believed that representatives of this species disappeared approximately 300 thousand years ago, but recent findings disprove this theory. It is not excluded that a person who was a right-footed man found the appearance of modern people.
Not so long ago it was assumed that the Neanderthals -direct ancestors of modern man. However, recent data allow us to state that they represent a dead-end evolutionary branch. Representatives of Homo neanderthalensis possessed a brain whose volume was approximately equal to the volume of the brain that modern humans are endowed with. Outwardly Neanderthals almost did not resemble monkeys, the structure of their lower jaw speaks of the ability to articulate speech.
It is believed that the Neanderthals appeared about 200thousands of years ago. The places of residence they chose depended on the climate. These could be caves, rocky canopies, river banks. The guns that the Neanderthals made became more sophisticated. The main source of food remained hunting, which was engaged in large groups.
It was possible to find out that the Neanderthals hadcertain rituals, including those related to the afterlife. It was they who had the first rudiments of morality, expressed in the care of their fellow tribesmen. The first timid steps were taken in the sphere of art.
The first representatives of Homo sapiens appearedabout 130 thousand years ago. Some scientists suggest that this happened even earlier. Externally, they looked almost the same? as well as the people inhabiting the planet today, the volume of the brain did not differ either.
Found as a result of archaeological excavationsartifacts make it possible to assert that the first people were highly developed in terms of culture. This is evidenced by such finds as cave paintings, various decorations, sculptures and engravings created by them. Approximately 15 thousand years, it took a reasonable person to populate the entire planet. Perfection of the instruments of labor led to the development of the productive economy, such activities as livestock farming, agriculture became popular with Homo sapiens. The first large settlements belong to the Neolithic period.
Features of the similarity of man and the anthropoidMonkeys are still the subject of research. Monkeys are able to move on the hind limbs, but hands are used as a support. The fingers of these animals do not contain claws, but nails. The number of orangutan ribs is 13 pairs, while in the representatives of the human race there are 12. The number of incisors, canines and molars in humans and monkeys is the same. Also, we can not fail to note the similar structure of the systems of organs and sense organs.
Features of the similarity of man and the anthropoidmonkeys become especially obvious when they consider ways of expressing feelings. They just show sadness, anger, joy. They have developed a parental instinct, which is manifested in caring for the cubs. Their offspring, they not only caress, but also punished for disobedience. Monkeys have an excellent memory, are able to hold objects and use them as tools.
These animals are susceptible to such diseases as typhoid fever, cholera, smallpox, can become infected with AIDS and influenza. There are common parasites: the head louse.
Not all scientists agree thatanthropoid apes are the ancestors of modern man. The volume of the human brain on average is 1600 cubic centimeters, while this figure in animals has 600 cubic meters. See approximately 3.5 times the area of the cerebral cortex.
List the differences associated with the appearance,can be long. For example, representatives of the human race have a chin, turned lips, allowing to see the mucous membrane. They do not have fangs, the centers of VID are more developed. Monkeys have a barrel-shaped chest, while in humans it is flat. Also the person is distinguished by an extended pelvis, strengthened sacrum. In animals the length of the trunk exceeds the length of the lower limbs.
People have consciousness, they are able to generalizeand abstract, involve abstract and concrete thinking. Representatives of the human race are able to create tools of labor, develop areas such as art and science. They have a language form of communication.
As has already been said, not all people agree,that monkeys are the ancestors of man. Darwin's theory has many opponents, which lead to more and more arguments. There are alternative theories explaining the appearance of representatives of Homo sapiens on the planet Earth. The oldest is the theory of creationism, implying that man is a creation created by a supernatural being. The image of the creator depends on religious beliefs. For example, Christians believe that people appeared on the planet thanks to God.
Another popular theory is space. It says that the human race has an extraterrestrial origin. This theory considers the existence of people as the result of an experiment conducted by the cosmic mind. There is another version, which says that the human race originated from extraterrestrial beings.
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