Final Anthropology Essay

7 Pages 1714 Words

shape the cultures and species over the passage of time, especially natural selection and the law of competitive isolation. Austrolopithicus began as bipedals with a small brain case and large physical features (strong jaw muscles, large thick-enamaled teeth, great muscle mass) which helped them to survive on the ground for a while while vegetation was lush. As the years past, the climate and surroundings changed into a more savannah-like environment, and Austrolopithicus began to “split” into two different forms of man, one retaining many of the larger, physical characteristics, and another with a larger brain case. Evolution selected for the larger brained species, but why? It seems that brain over brawn was a key to survival in the changing world, and you had to smart in order to survive. This new species, Homo, was probably better able to predict changes in seasons, as well as devise better means of obtaining plants and meat while not dying in the process. The species able to feed themselves and prevent injury/death increase their reproductive success, ...