Video Lesson

Lesson Objectives

At the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:-

• Appraise the major theories of human evolution.
• Describe the major stages of human evolution.
• Explain the theories of the origin of mankind.

Brainstorming Questions

• What do you know about human evolution
• How all living things were created in your expectation?

key Terms

3.1 The emergence of Human beings

There are two major opposing theories on the origin of human beings. These are the Creationist and Evolutionist (scientific) theories.

3.1.1. The Creationist View

The creationist view :-Advocates that man, including all living things, was created by God or a supernatural being and also have relation with religion.

3.1.2. The Scientific Theory

The scientific theory explains that all living things, including humans, result from a gradual succession process. This slow and natural process is called evolution. Thus this theory is called evolutionist. This theory was formulated by the English scientist Charles Darwin (1809-1882) According to evolutionist theory, all human beings belong to the species Homo sapiens. which descended from a common ancestor or a Genus known as Homo. Humans belong to the Hominid what is known as bipedal, i.e., walking on two feet with an upright position. The earliest hominid to be found in Ethiopia was discovered at Aramis in Afar. It is described by a team of Paleontologists led by Tim White, and it is dated to around 4.4 million years ago. Finally, in 1974, Donald Johansson found the oldest complete human skeleton in Ethiopia named Lucy/ Dinkenash.

3.2 Genus Homo

The three different species that belong to the genus Homo are: Homo Habilis, Homo erects, Homo sapience and Modern Human (Homo sapiens sapiens)

3.2.1. Homo Habilis (Handy human)

Homo Habilis- Is the oldest a handy human being

• The fossil found in the Omo valley in Ethiopia.
• They made the first hand axes or the first stone tools.

3.2.2. Homo Erects or (“upright human being”)

• That emerged around 2 million years ago
• First to leave Africa and moved to Europe
• They learned to use fire to keep warm in colder areas.
• Fossils were found in the Omo Basin, Melka-Kunture, Konso–Gardula, and Middle Awash in Ethiopia.

3.2.3. Homo sapience (wise Human beings )

• Homo sapience were wise human beings
• Very similar to modern human beings.
• The species were found in the Awash,, Omo valleys and near Dire Dawah in Ethiopia.

3.2.4. Modern Human

Modern Human (Homo sapiens sapiens) appeared around 100,000 years ago. They are different in many ways from their ancestors.

Map 1.1 Hominids’ sites in Ethiopia Afar region

The place; age estimation, years discovery and character of spices of Australopiticus

Name of the Fossil(AUSTRALOPITHECINES)	Age Estimation	Place of discovery	Year of discovery	It’s character
Sahelian cadenzas	between 7-8 million years ago	Chad	2001	oldest
Ramides	4.4	Afar	1994	–
Afarensis/lucy/Dinknesh	3.18	Hader in Afar	1974	the most complete fossil
Africanus	2.5	At Tatung s. Africa	1924	–