According to scientific data, primitive peopleappeared about 4 million years ago. For many millennia they evolved, that is, they improved not only in terms of the development of primitive society, but also externally. Historical anthropology divides primitive people into several species, which successively replace each other. What are the anatomical features of each type of primitive people, and in what period of time they existed? Read on for all of this.
Самые древние люди обитали на территории Африки more than 2 million years ago. This is confirmed by numerous archaeological finds. However, it is known for the first time that human-like creatures confidently moving on their hind limbs (namely, this sign is the most important in determining primitive man) appeared much earlier - 4 million years ago. This characteristic of ancient people, such as upright walking, was first identified in creatures that scientists gave the name "Australopithecus."
As a result of centuries of evolution, they were replacedthe more advanced Homo habls, also known as the "skillful man." It was replaced by human-like creatures, whose representatives were called Homo erectus, which in Latin means “straight erect man”. And only after almost half a million years, a more perfect type of primitive man appeared, which most of all resembled the modern rational population of the Earth - Homo sapiens or “reasonable man”. As can be seen from the foregoing, primitive people slowly, but at the same time, developed very effectively, mastering new opportunities. Let us consider in more detail what all these human ancestors were, what their activities consisted in and how they looked.
Historical anthropology relates Australopithecusto the very first monkeys moving on the hind limbs. The origin of this kind of primitive people began in the territory of East Africa more than 4 million years ago. For nearly 2 million years, these creatures spread across the continent. The most ancient man, whose height averaged 135 cm, weighed no more than 55 kg. Unlike monkeys, Australopithecus possessed more pronounced sexual dimorphism, but the structure of the canines in male and female individuals was almost the same. The cranial box of this type was relatively small and had a volume of not more than 600 cm3. The main activity of Australopithecus practically did not differ from the one in which modern monkeys are engaged, and was reduced to the extraction of food and protection from natural enemies.
Homo habilis (translated from Latin "manskillful ") as a separate independent species of humanoid appeared 2 million years ago on the African continent. This most ancient man, whose growth often reached 160 cm, had a more developed brain than Australopithecus, about 700 cm3. Homo teeth and upper limb toeshabilis had almost complete resemblance to human ones, however large eyebrows and jaws made it look like monkeys. In addition to gathering, a skilled man was engaged in hunting with the use of boulders, and was able to use processed tracing paper for cutting animal carcasses. This suggests that Homo habilis is the first human-like creature with labor skills.
Anatomical characteristics of ancient peopleknown as Homo erectus, is a pronounced increase in the volume of the skull, which allowed scientists to assert that their brains are comparable in size with the brains of modern humans. Brow arc and jaws of a skilled person remained massive, but were not as pronounced as their predecessors. The constitution was almost the same as in modern man. Judging by archaeological finds, Homo erectus led a sedentary lifestyle and knew how to make fire. Representatives of this species lived in fairly large groups in caves. The main occupation of a skilled man was gathering (mainly in women and children), hunting and fishing, making clothes. Homo erectus was one of the first to realize the need for food storage.
Neanderthals appeared much later than their predecessors - about 250 thousand years ago. What was this most ancient person? Its growth reached 170 cm, and the volume of the skull - 1200 cm3. Помимо Африки и Азии эти предки человека settled in Europe. The maximum number of Neanderthals in one group reached 100 people. Unlike their predecessors, they had rudimentary forms of speech, which allowed fellow tribesmen to exchange information and interact more harmoniously with each other. The main occupation of this human ancestor was hunting. Success in the extraction of food they provided a variety of tools: spears, pointed long fragments of stones, which were used as knives, and traps dug into the ground with stakes. The resulting materials (skins, leather) Neanderthals used to make clothes and shoes.
Cro-Magnon or reasonable man (Homo Sapiens) -This is the most ancient person known to science, whose growth has already reached 170-190 cm. The outward similarity of this type of primitive people with monkeys was almost imperceptible, since the brow ridges decreased, and the lower jaw was no longer protruding. Cro-Magnon labor tools were made not only of stone, but also of wood and bone. In addition to hunting, these human ancestors were engaged in farming and primary forms of animal husbandry (they tamed wild animals).
The level of thinking of the Cro-Magnon was significantlyabove predecessors. This allowed them to create cohesive social groups. In place of the herd principle of existence came the clan system and the creation of the beginnings of socio-economic laws.
