It is a common understanding that

change is the only permanent thing in

this world. Every living thing is
dynamic and, as such, undergoes
transformation.
Likewise, man as the most important
component of society, goes through
evolutionary changes that help him adapt
to his environment. Thus, his adaptation
started the formation of society as well as
cultural development which is essential
for survival.
Evolution is a natural process of biological
changes occurring in a population across
successive generations.

It helps us identify and analyze man’s

physiological development which is important
in his subsistence.
More so, the evolution of man became an
important concern in the emergence of
different societies.

Early man’s development serve as an

avenue in analyzing the progress of our
society.
For two million years, man in the form of early
hominid, was a herd/ tribal animal, primarily a
herd herbivore.
During the next two million years the human
was a tribal hunter/ warrior.
All of the human’s social drives developed
long before he developed intellectually.
They are, therefore, instinctive.

Such instincts as mother-love,

compassion, cooperation, curiosity,
inventiveness and competitiveness are
ancient and embedded in the human.
They were all necessary for the survival of
the human and pre-human. Hence, man’s
progression and characteristics are
essential in understanding the capability
for adaptation.
 Species Characteristics

Homo habilis >> Species with a brain of a Broca’s area which is

associated with speech in modern humans and was
the first to make stone tools.

The ability to make and use tools is a unique quality

to humans such that the species is recognized to be
the first true human.

The species name means “Handy Man.” Lived about

2.4 to 1.4. million years ago scavenging for food.
 Species Characteristics
Homo rudolfensis >> Species characterize by a longer face,
larger molar and pre-molar teeth, and
having a larger braincase compared to
habilis particularly larger frontal lobes,
areas of the brain that processes
information.

The species lived about 1.9 to 1.8 million

years ago.
 Species Characteristics
Homo erectus >> The species name means “Upright
Man” with body proportions similar to
that of modern humans. Lived 1.89 to
143,000 years ago; adapted to hot
climates and mostly spread in Africa and
Asia. They were the first hunters with
improvised tools such as axes and
knives, and were the first to produce
fire.
 Species Characteristics
Homo
heidelbergensis >> Species with large brow ridge and
short wide bodies that lived about
700,000 to 200,000 years ago in Europe
and Africa. They were the first of early
human species to live in colder climates,
first to hunt large animals on routine
basis using spears, and first to construct
human shelters.
 Species Characteristics
Homo floresiensis
>> Species nicknamed “Hobbit”
due to their small stature with a
height of more or less 3 feet and
lived 95,000 to 17,000 years ago in
the island of Flores, Indonesia
along with other dwarfed animal
species.
 Species Characteristics
Homo sapiens

>> The species name means

“Wise Man” that appeared
from 200,000 years ago. The
present human race belongs to
this species.
 Species Characteristics
Homo sapiens >> Subspecies with short yet stocky in
neanderthalensis body build adopted to winter climates
especially in icy cold places in Europe and
Asia. The subspecies, also known as
“Neanderthal Man,” is the closes relative
of modern humans. The first to practice
burial of their dead, hunting and
gathering food, and sewing clothes from
animal skin using bone needles. They
lived about 200,000 to 28, 000 years ago.
 Species Characteristics
Homo sapiens sapiens >> Subspecies known as Cro-
Magnon characterized to be
anatomically modern humans
and lived in the last Ice Age of
Europe from 40,000 to 10,000
years ago. They were the first to
produce art in cave paintings and
crafting decorated tools and
accessories.
The Physical as well as the mental development of early
human beings helped them understand and adapt to
their existing environment. Thus, their adjustment
served as the onset of their culture. Culture enables the
member of society to develop ways of coping with the
exigencies of nature as well as ways of harnessing their
environment (Panopio, et al. 1994 p. 37). The changes
made by man through his interaction with the
environment establish the different cultural evolution
which determines man’s sociocultural development.
 Man’s Cultural Evolution
Cultural Period Time Frame Cultural Development

Paleolithic Age Traditional >> Use of simple pebble tools.

(Old Stone Age) coincide with the >> Learned to live in caves
first evidence of >> Discovered the use of fire.
tool construction >> Developed small sculptures; and monumental
and the use by painting, incised designs, and reliefs on the walls of caves.
Homosome 2.5 >> “Food-collecting cultures”
million years ago

Neolithic Age Occurred >> Stone tools were shaped by polishing or grinding.
(New Stone sometime about >> Settlement in permanent villages
Age) 10,000 BCE >> Dependence on domesticated plants or animals.
>> Appearances of such craft as pottery and weaving
>> “Food-production cultures”
Simple Differentiation of the Cultural Evolution
Paleolithic Age Neolithic Age

Unpolished stone Polished stone

tools tools

Hunting and Domestication of

gathering plants and animals

Nomadic way of Living in

living permanent places
The evidences of a change in economic aspect have
resulted in the transformation of man’s way of life.
Early societies started to emerge as a result of
man’s interaction with his environment. Every
society is organized in such a way that there will be
rules of conduct, customs, traditions, folkways and
mores, and expectations that ensure appropriate
behavior among members.
This organizational components provides the basis
of identifying what is acceptable or not within the
social order. Sociologically and anthropologically,
society possesses different characteristics that show
the interdependence of people with one another.
Characteristics of Human Society

1.) It is a social

2.) A society is relatively large.

3.) A society recruits most of its members from within.

4.) A society sustains itself across generations.

5.) A society’s members share a culture.

6.) A society occupies a territory.

 Types of Societies
Type of Human Characteristics
Societies
1.) Hunting and >> The earliest form of human societies
Food Gathering >> People survive by foraging (scavenging) for vegetable foods
Societies and small game, fishing, hunting larger wild animals, and
collecting shellfish.
>> They subsisted from day to day on whatever was available.
>> They use tools made of stones, woods, and bones.
2.) Horticultural >> People learned to use human muscle power and hand held
societies tools to cultivate fields.
>> Classified as subsistence farming and surplus farming.
SUBSISTENCE FARMING:
>> Involves only producing enough food to feed the group.
>> The settlements are small.
>> Neighborhood is solid.
>> Political organization is confined in the village.
>> Authority is based on positions inherited by males through
the kinship system.
SURPLUS FARMING:
>> Practiced in thickly populated and permanent settlements.
>> There was occupational specialization with prestige
differences.
>> Social stratification was well established
>> The community tended to be structured by kinship
relations that are male dominated
 Type of Human Characteristics
Societies
3.) Pastoral >> It relied on herding and the domestication of animals for
Societies food and clothing to satisfy the greater needs of the group.
>> Most pastoralists were nomads who followed their herds in
a never-ending quest for pasture and water.
>> It was organized along male-centered kinship groups.
>> It was usually united under strong political figures.
However, centralized political leadership did not occur
 Type of Human Characteristics
Societies
4.) Agricultural >> These societies were characterized by the use of the plow
Societies in farming.
>> Creation of the irrigation system provided farming enough
surplus for the community.
>> Ever-growing populations came together in broad river
valley system.
>> Those who controlled access to arable land and its use
became rich and powerful since they could demand the
payment of taxes and political support.
>> By taxing the bulk of agriculture surplus, the political
leaders could make bureaucracies implement their plans and
armies to protect their privileges.
>> Social classes became entrenched and state evolved.
 Type of Human Characteristics
Societies
5.) Industrial >> It is characterized by more than just the use of mechanical
Societies means of production.
>> It constitutes an entirely new form of society that requires
an immense, mobile diversity specialized, high skilled, and
well-coordinated labor force.
>> Creates a highly organized systems of exchange between
suppliers of raw materials and industrial manufacturers.
>> Industrial societies are divided along class lines.
>> Industrialism brought about a tremendous shift of
populations.
>> Kinship plays a smaller role in patterning public affairs.
>> Industrial societies are highly secularized
 Type of Human Characteristics
Societies
>> The predominant form of social and political organization in
industrial societies is the bureaucracy.
6.) Post- >> It depends on specialized knowledge to bring about
industrialized continuing progress in technology.
Societies >> It is characterized by the spread of computer industries.
>> Knowledge and information are the hallmark of this society.
>> It resulted in the homogenization of social relations among
individuals and the interaction between humans and the
natural environment.