What key features have we inherited from distant ancestors

Assignment Help Humanities
Reference no: EM13756040

1. The study of history normally deals in decades or (sometimes) centuries. Environmental history, in contrast, takes a much longer view, often covering hundreds of thousands and even millions of years. With this in mind, answer the following two questions:

(a) In your opinion, what practical problems do such huge timescales present to the study of the human past?

(b) To help put such vast lengths of time in perspective, I suggested that if the entire history of Homo sapiens (c. 200,000 years) was equal to a book 1000 pages in length, then the lifetime of a 25-year-old human would take up just the last four lines of the last page. Provide your own analogy to vividly demonstrate the relationship between the lifetime of a single individual and the existence of the entire species.

2. If ‘history' is the account of the human past based on available written documents, then by definition ‘prehistory' is the recreation of the human past before any written documents existed. In your opinion, what problems does this pose for the historian attempting to write the 97.5 per cent of human history that occurred before such sources existed, and to what extent is it even possible to write an accurate prehistory of humanity?

3. As a separate species we descend from a long line of primates, an order of mammal that can be traced back 65 million years to the last days of the dinosaurs.

(a) What key features have we inherited from those distant ancestors?

(b) How might those features have helped us adjust and adapt as a species to changes in the environment over the past 200,000 years or so?

4. For the vast majority of our existence as a species - as much as 99 per cent according to environmental historian Clive Ponting - we have survived by hunting and gathering in a nomadic lifestyle. Only in the past 10,000 years or so have we become dependent on agriculture for our food and lived in settled communities of more than a few dozen individuals. From your own experience and observations of the world and ourselves, what is there about the contemporary human condition that reflects our deep origins as a mobile, foraging creature that depended on a keen knowledge of the environment?

5-Think back to the two films we saw this week on the lifeways of our prehistoric ancestors (Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons). Then read, carefully, Fagan's account of a hunter-gatherer society in Stone Age Europe. Pay special attention to his discussion of evidence and sources on pp. 204-06.

As we discussed in class, the biggest probem in studying prehistoric civilizations is that they, by definition, leave no written evidence for us to look at. Instead, we have to use artifacts, art, implements, bones etc. Broadly speaking, there are THREE kinds of conclusions we can draw: (1) conclusions based solidly on the physical evidence we have; (2) conclusions we can fairly draw from that evidence, even if we can cannot be 100% certain; and (3) conclusions based on our imaginative recreation of likely or possible scenarios, events or habits, etc.
Based on your reading of Fagan, identify ONE example of each of these THREE types of conclusion he draws in his chapter. Finally, identify ONE aspect of Stone Age life that you would like to know more about, but for which we do not or cannot have any evidence.

Reference no: EM13756040

Questions Cloud

Completing the accounting cycle : What are the steps in completing the accounting cycle? How do the different steps affect the financial statements? What is the effect on the financial statements of missing a step when completing the accounting cycle?
Examine important business processes and strategies : On the basis of your collected information, examine important business processes and strategies that the company uses. Suggest information systems that might give competitive advantages to the particular businesses
What was the boxer rebellion attempting to achieve : What was the boxer rebellion attempting to achieve?
When is the trial balance prepared : When is the trial balance prepared? What does the trial balance tell you? What does the trial balance not tell you. How would you explain the purpose of the adjusted trial balance?
What key features have we inherited from distant ancestors : What key features have we inherited from those distant ancestors? How might those features have helped us adjust and adapt as a species to changes in the environment over the past.
Develop a flowchart and provide a brief explanation for it : A middle school has decided that it would like to make its students' grades available to their parents via an online parent portal. Develop a flowchart and provide a brief explanation for it
Create a web page using color or an image : Create a web page using color or an image as a background, add an image into the body of text, and then add colors that are compatible to the design. You should also include some "mock" text to your page to show position of text.
Subject to adjusting journal entries and why : What are adjusting entries and why are they necessary? What accounts are subject to adjusting journal entries and why? What are the types of adjusting entries (provide examples)?
What is the revenue recognition principle : What is the revenue recognition principle? What is the expense recognition principle? Why are they important to financial reporting?

Reviews

Write a Review

Humanities Questions & Answers

  Assuming this journal entry was posted what correcting

132 a 72000 receipt of cash from a customer pa... a 72000 receipt of cash from a customer paying on their account was

  The koran and islamic culture-discuss how the koran has

the koran and islamic culture-discuss how the koran has determined the course not only of law in islam but also its

  What is the value of stockholders

Some people argue that a stock dividend is a way of appearing to give something of value to stockholders when in fact all they receive is a worthless piece of paper.

  Record the entry for the receipt of dividends

Entries for Investment in Stock, Receipt of Dividends, and Sale of Shares On February 17, Asher Corporation acquired 7,200 shares of the 250,000 outstanding shares of Dan Co. common stock at $41.80 plus commission charges of $1,440.

  Write a short essay to help determine your ability to write

write a short essay to help determine your ability to write clearly and correctly you are asked to write a

  Discuss the differences between an indictment and an

discuss the differences between an indictment and an information. what are the merits and downfalls of each? which

  Zimbardo experiment

Discuss the Zimbardo Experiment. Explain why this type of dangerous experiment is no longer allowed.

  The project paper focuses on a suggested topic related to

project paperthe project paper focuses on a suggested topic related to art architecture history music or literature.the

  Create a timeline of the major designs and developments in

the next project is to create a timeline using the provided timeline template for microsoft word.create a timeline of

  Emphasize the benefits for the audience

Writing persuasively and analyzing your audience go hand in hand. After all, how can you persuade you audience if you don't know who your audience is?

  Explain why non-buddhists might choose to take up the

explain why non-buddhists might choose to take up the practice of meditation.explain why a koan might help a person

  Symbolize the black mans journey

You may choose any poem(s) from the reading list. If you get "stuck," read your chosen poem(s) again with a pen in hand so you can make notes. Do not hesitate to share your initial ideas with your classmates and the instructor.

Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd