Biological and Cultural Evolution

• Biological and cultural evolutions are key concepts in the study of the origins of modern humans.
• Biological evolution refers to the changes, modifications, and variations in the genetics and inherited traits of biological populations from one generation to another.
• Natural selection is the outcome of a process that affects the frequencies of traits in a particular environment.
• Cultural evolution or sociocultural evolution refers to the changes or development in cultures from a simple form to a more complex form of human culture.
• Sociocultural evolution happens as a result of human adaptation to different factors like climatic changes and population increase.
• Hunting and Gathering Societies

  The oldest and most basic way of economic subsistence is hunting and gathering. Hunting and gathering societies produce simple forms of tools used to hunt for animals and gather plants and vegetation for food.
• Horticultural

  Horticultural societies are described as semisedentary societies because they do not frequently move as opposed to hunting and gathering societies. These societies subsist through small-scale farming.

  They produce and use simple forms of od hand tools to plant crops.
• Pastoral

  Pastoral societies' principal means of subsistence is animal domestication. Pastoralist societies are classified as animal herders and subsist based on the resources provided by their animals.
• Agricultural Societies

  Agricultural societies started to cultivate wheat, barley, peas, rice, and millet. Humans began to farm and domesticate animals as a form of subsistence.
• Industrial Societies

  Industrial societies began when the industrial revolution swept through Europe during the late 18th century. During the Industrial Revolution, new sources of energy were harnessed, advanced forms of technology were applied, and types of machinery were invented.
• Post-Industrial Era

  In the post-industrial era, production centers on computers and other electronic devices that create, process, and apply ideas and information
• Four Major Civilizations

  1. The Sumerian civilization that developed along Tigris and Euphrates River in West Asia
  2. Indus Valley civilization that started along the Indus River Valley in India
  3. Shang civilization of China that developed near the Huang Hi/ Huang He River
  4. Egyptian civilization that started along the Nile River