Man and the Environment: An Overview M. Stafford 8/07

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Origins Homo sapiens Latin “wise man” Humans and apes share ancestry (Hominoids) Hominids are humans and direct ancestors

The Early Days 30-35 million years ago (mya) Tree dwellers Tropical environments

20 MYA Indian Plate collides with the Asian Plate Himalayas form Results Africa drier More Savanna Arboreal ancestors adapted to less life in the trees

5-7 MYA Humans and Apes diverged (split) Differences in: Brain size Jaw shape (shorter) Family structure (extended parental care) Australopithecus

We are pretty recent and there have been many species of human-like organisms Homo habilis 2.5 – 1.6 mya Larger brain and stone tools

1.8 to 500,000 Years Ago Homo erectus migrates out of Africa Taller, larger brains

200,000 to 30,000 Years ago Neanderthals in Europe Very similar to modern humans (we may have shared DNA) Art and burial ceremonies Used Stone tools

Approximately 100,000 Years ago Migrations throughout Asia and Europe May have been due to climate change and/or increasing populations Several hypotheses

Modern Humans Survival Strategies Hunter-gatherer Gather natural foods Hunt Extinction of North American Megafauna Nomadic Beginning of division of labor

Hunter -gatherer Valued old people Make little or no effort to control the natural resources in an area in which they live Possible exception (fire)

Hunter-gatherer Small environmental impact Population density remained low Result: Environment has time to regenerate Disease does not become pandemic

Agricultural Societies Originated about 10,000 years ago in several areas Middle East, Asia, Africa and possibly the Americas Produced crops and domesticated animals

Agricultural Societies Agriculture caused two changes in society Reduced Nomadism Increased division of labor

Inventions followed such as the plow Populations increased Food excesses meant that some did not need to farm which leads to formation of cities with craftsmen, manufacturing and trade networks

Agricultural Societies If an agricultural society can live within the limits of its environment, it can sustain indefinitely

Agricultural Societies Early agriculture rotated crops and left some fields fallow Now logging and overgrazing often result in loss of soil followed by loss of vegetation, climate change and desertification

Industrial Societies 1700’s Production of goods switched from skilled craftspeople to machines Coal-fired steam engine allowed for mass production of goods

Mass production and advances in agriculture resulted in more food produced by fewer people

Industrial Society Defined Society in which the production of food and other products is performed by machines, demanding large amounts of energy and resources.

Scientific advances: Increased crop yields Medical advances

The population rises dramatically Along with this is the industrialization of many aboriginal societies Increased energy use and human population

End result: Environmental damage

Pollution of land, air and water is a widespread problem of the 20th and 21st century.

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