UCSP-Q1-Module 3

Subject: Understanding Culture,

Society and Politics Lesson
Topic: Human Biocultural and Social Human Biological and
Evolution 1 Cultural Evolution
After finishing this module, you should be able to:

1. analyze the significance of cultural, social, political, and economic Looking back into the origin and evolution of human beings, we can find it
symbols and practices out from the different theories, growth and development of societies. In
explaining the basis of the human origins, there are anthropologists,
a. traces the biological and cultural evolution of early to modern humans geologists, and archaeologists who have given their explanations and
(UCSP11/12HBSIe-12) perspectives for that matter.
b. explore the significance of human material remains and artefactual The origin, growth, and development of human can be explained through
evidence in interpreting cultural and social, including political and the biological and cultural evolution because the connection between them
economic, processes (UCSP11/12HBS- If-13) had been noticed in early history of human evolution.
c. recognizes national, local, and specialized museums, and archaeological One of the most significant issues in social science is the origin and nature
and historical sites as venues to appreciate and reflect on the complexities of societies. Tracing the biological and cultural evolution of early to modern
of biocultural and social evolution as part of being and becoming human humans make us understand where we came from. Exploring these facts
(UCSP11/12HBS- If-14) will help us appreciate and recognize our complexities as part of the society.

Biological and Cultural Evolution of Human Beings

Human behavior is the result of the interaction of both biological

and cultural factors (De Winter, 1984). Therefore, the study of biological and
cultural evolution of the humans are significant in understanding its origin.
There are various explanations regarding this topic in the early
history. For instance, Greek philosophers like Aristotle and Plato presented
their study that human beings form a connection with the universe while
the Roman philosopher Lucretius believed that the early humans were cave-
dwellers. Likewise in a biblical account on the book of Genesis, it was
believed that humans were created by God and the first parents were Adam
and Eve. Meanwhile, social scientists said that societies have evolved as
human beings learned to adapt their environment through social evolution
with process of socialization and enculturation whereby it was explained
through biological and cultural evolution.

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Biological evolution refers to the changes, modifications, and variations in of information about the human evolution because it can give a deeper
the genetics and inherited traits of biological populations from one understanding of the development of humans.
generation to another. It is also a process whereby organisms undergo Hominid is the general term used by scientists to categorize the
various genetic and physical changes that pave the way for biological group of early humans and other humanlike creatures that can walk erect
diversity. This includes physical changes in the body of humans like its during the prehistoric times. Hominids are divided into four categories
shape, size of body organs, movement, and the development of the feet in a based on the age of artifacts and fossils found: Sahelanthropus,
straight posture (Jeffery, 2019). Ardipithecus, Australopithecus, and Homo.
Biological evolution is based on Charles Darwin’s Theory of Australopithecus are considered as the first stage of human
Evolution. Darwin (1809-1862) is a famous naturalist and geologist who evolution together with Sahelanthropus and Ardipithecus. Their fossils were
wrote the book “On the Origin of Species” in 1959 wherein he visited excavated in the African continent. Australopithecus afarensis is considered
Galápagos Islands to grasped the significance of the unique wildlife he found as the common ancestor of Australopithecus species. The 3.2 million years
there only after he returned to London (Sulloway, 2005). old Australopithecus afarensis fossil named “Lucy,” discovered in Hadar,
In his study, Darwin argued that the species develop and evolve in Ethiopia in November 1974 by paleoanthropologists led by Dr. Donald
form through natural selection. According to Live Science, natural selection Johanson, was considered as one of the modern human’s earliest ancestors
is a change of species in small ways, causing a population to change color and the most famous hominid fossil discovered. Paleoanthropologists are
or size over the course of several generations. Darwin hypothesized that the the people who study the origin and development of human beings dealing
basic idea of all biological change can be described in terms of just three with fossil hominids.
basic principles: variation, competition, and inheritance. However, Australopithecus disappeared in the evolutionary map
On the other hand, anthropologists introduced the concept of million years ago and was replaced by the Homo, a much more intelligent
cultural evolution or sociocultural evolution. This refers to the changes or hominids who were classified as humans and humanlike creatures because
development in cultures from a simple form to a more complex form of of having bigger brains and two feet that erect walk. From the fossil
human culture. This happens as a result of human adaptation to different evidences, it was believed that Homo first lived in Africa for about 2.4 million
factors like climatic changes and population increase. Scientists studied years ago. Homo species included Homo habilis (handy man), Homo erectus
this by analyzing the changes in the way of life reflected in the different man- (upright man), and the Home sapiens (wise man).
made tools and equipment that they humans have used. Archaeologists used toolmaking abilities of the early humans in the
1960s to determine the first direct ancestors of the Homo. It was believed
Homo habilis (handy man) was the direct ancestor of the modern human
From Hominids to Homo Sapiens Sapiens because of its ability to produce tools. From this species, Homo erectus
(upright man), who are considered as skillful hunters, came from and it is
Scientists have believed that the evolution of man follows an
believed that it is more intelligent and more adaptable than Homo habilis in
evolutionary ladder which illustrates that the African great apes
terms of cultural development. It was believed that Home erectus can do the
(chimpanzee, gorilla, bonobo) like humans of the ancient ancestors at the
following: (1) species are said to be intelligent because of its ability to invent
base and the modern humans (Home Sapiens Sapiens) at the top.
and develop different technologies to respond to their needs; (2) first species
This development were studied by archaeologists. It refers to
to use fire and to live in caves and small houses made of tree branches; (3)
scientists who study the past by excavating artifacts and fossils buried in
first Homo to use spoken language; (4) able to develop different religious
the earth’s surface and analyzing it. Artifacts are objects that were made
rituals particularly burial practices; (5) fossil was first discovered in Africa;
and used by humans. Examples of these include stone tools, metal tools,
(6) first Homo to leave Africa and travel to other continents like Asia and
jars, ornaments, and ceramics. Fossils are the preserved traces of species
Southern Europe; and (7) first Homo to survive Asia.
like plants, animals, and other organisms commonly found inside a rock.
According to the archaeologists, artifacts and fossils are important sources

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The first Homo erectus fossil in Asia was found in the Longgupo Cave in
China and was believed to have lived around 1.9 million years ago. Another
evidence was excavated by Eugene Dubois (1848-1940), a Dutch anatomist
and geologist, in Trinil, Java, Indonesia. It was known as Java Man and was
recorded to be 1.8 million years of age. Another Homo erectus was
discovered in 1920 in Zhoukoudian, China which was known as Peking Man
and was estimated to have lived for about 1.1. million to 1 million years ago.

The last stage in the evolution ladder of the Homo family was the Homo
sapiens (thinking man) who was considered as the modern man. Their
physical anatomy has similarity with modern human beings the reason why
they are considered as the species where modern humans belong to.

Unlike other Homo species, Homo sapiens made smoothened tools and had The National Museum of the Philippines located in Ermita, Manila
more developed shelters and advanced technology. Examples are the
different stone tools like fish hooks, harpoons, bows and arrows, spear In the Philippines, there is The National Museum of the Philippines
throwers, and sewing needles. Even if that it was Homo erectus were which is divided into three major galleries: National Museum of Natural
believed to develop oral languages, anthropologists argued that it was the History, National Museum of Anthropology, and National Museum of Fine
Homo sapiens who first develop and use that skill because they have more Arts. The National Museum is an educational, scientific and cultural
developed brains and speech organs. institution that acquires, documents, preserves, exhibits, and fosters
scholarly study and public appreciation of works of art, specimens, and
The Cro-Magnon or the Homo neanderthalensis are considered as the first cultural and historical artifacts representative of our unique to the cultural
group of Homo Sapiens during the past years but after conducting DNA heritage of the Filipino people and the natural history of the Philippines
analysis of Neanderthal in 1997, it was proven that it was not an ancestor (National Museum of the Philippines, 2016).
of modern humans. With that, Cro-Magnon was known to be the first fossil
skeleton to be considered as a species of the Home sapiens called Homo These museums are institutions that are primarily tasked to
sapiens sapiens (wise man). Cro-Magnon fossils and artifacts were first conserved, communicate, and exhibit all material and nonmaterial heritages
found in Europe but is believed that it first appeared in North Africa and of human society. Through the museum galleries, the human biological and
later on travelled to Europe and Asia. cultural evolution can be studied. Other than the National Museum, there
are more public and private museums located in the different parts of the
Museums as History Teller Philippines where people can visit to appreciate and recognize the history,
Museums are places where people can be able to see and appreciate culture, heritage of the country, and the proofs of human evolution.
various artifacts, fossils, and other proofs that can tell the history of the
past. It is difficult for an ordinary person to have an access to important
evidences of the past but it was made possible through the museum
galleries. As for Eric Lefebvre, director of the Cernuschi Museum in China,
museums open doors, bringing people closer to a different culture – to hear,
to see, and to experience where one door will lead into many entry points of
history.

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intelligence and strength and based on sex, age, and division of labor. These
groups are usually led by a priest because they believe that spirits live in
Lesson the world.
Cultural and Sociopolitical
2 Evolution
Horticultural and Pastoral Societies
Horticultural and pastoral societies are larger than hunting-
gathering societies. Horticultural societies produce simple hand tools to
grow crops using hoes to create holes for seed planting. In this society, there
is a surplus of food because they are able to keep their crops grow in the
same location unlike the hunting-gathering societies. The surplus allows its
Social scientists assert that human beings are social beings where members to trade their extra food to other societies.
they are developing culture as they respond to the challenges and influences On the other side, pastoral societies raise livestock animals where
of their environment. Throughout the time, culture is being developed and they also use it as major source of food and means of transportation if
transformed in societies. possible. These societies were developed in dry regions where growing of
Different transformations in the cultural and sociopolitical aspects crops is not possible in their land.
produce major level of developments and changes to the people. This can be Pastoralists are also called as animal herders because of the
considered as revolution in the growth of the society where human beings resources that can be provided by their livestock animals.
have its main role. In these societies, there is no equal social relations because land and animal
wealth leads to disputes where some of its members are acting as privileged
The Evolution of Sociocultural and Political Institutions among others because of the surplus of resources.
In the 19th century, the anthropologist Lewis Henry Morgan came
up with an evolutionary scheme that divided history into three stages of Agricultural Societies and Neolithic Revolution
development: savagery, barbarism, and civilization. This view is an example Agricultural societies are the beginning of the major sociocultural
of how the society has development and transformed throughout time. and economic development because people began to farm and domesticate
People continuously learned new knowledge and skills which they made animals. Cultivating wheat, barley, peas, rice and millet became their form
useful as they live their life. of subsistence.
On the other side, an American Sociologist Gerhard Lenski argued Animal domestication provided important contributions to the
that human society undergoes transformation and evolution and in the Neolithic people for they began to produce cultivation tools and developed
process develops technological advancement where societies were categorize farming skills that can sustain a population with a thousand of people. This
in different types which is according to their level of development. is when plow and wheel was invented in the Middle East and it eventually
spread to other parts of the world where it became known as Neolithic
Hunting and Gathering Societies Revolution. Meat of domesticated animals like sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs
The earliest societies were composed of hunting-gathering groups. became additional sources of nutrition to the Neolithic people. Skins of these
Huntinggathering groups are considered as the oldest and most basic way animals also turned into a source of clothing while the horns and bones of
of survival. Men are tasked to hunt large animals while women were in- it were utilized in making utensils. Animal manure was used as fertilizer for
charged of gathering plants and vegetation for food. These societies were soil cultivation.
commonly known as nomads or the people who fixed habitation or shelter. The developed technology in farming led into the development of
Most of the time nomadic societies live in caves or underground houses agriculture in the world and it also led into social inequality because some
covered by tree branches. Leadership is according to abilities like

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farmers happened to be slaves while the land owners acted as elites of the developed and highly advanced cities; (2) well-defined city centers; (3)
society. complex and systematic institutions; (4) organized and centralized system
of government; (5) formalized and complex form of religion; (6) job
Industrial Societies specialization; (7) development of social classes; (8) implementation of large-
The Industrial Revolution began in Europe during the late 18th scale public works and infrastructures; (9) advance technology; (10) system
century where new sources of energy were discovered, advanced forms of of writing and recording; and (11) detailed forms of arts and architecture.
technology were applied, and more machineries were invented. These The said civilizations have well organized form of government and leaders
changes were made possible because of the factory machineries which is are powerful enough to govern their citizens. Political leaders of the early
used for production and manufacturing. civilization were also tasked to craft and implement laws, impose justice and
People began to leave their farm land to work in urban areas where punishment, collect taxes, and sometimes as religious leaders too. Below is
factories are located. The birth of industrial societies begins to consume a table presenting the different political systems of the four major
most of the world’s resources because these resources – especially the civilizations:
natural – are the life of the factories to continue their production of goods.
Social Sumerian Egyptian Indus Valley Shang
Post-Industrial Societies Class
Post-Industrial Society is the start of information technology age Political
where development of computers became the trend. This revolution replaced leader and
Priests and
machines as the primary source of economic development. Use of the Pharaoh Brahmin King Priest
Royalty
information technology applications pave a way for computers to rise for the highest
information revolution. social class
During this era, there is a significant increase in profession and Government
technical workers and a decline number of skilled and semiskilled workers. officials,
Computer literacy and application of computer software became a job Kshatriyas Working
Wealthy Soldiers,
qualification and education became a basis of social mobility. Other class
merchants, scribes, Vaisyas
Communication infrastructure turned out to be the focus of social (farmers,
classes Ordinary merchants, Sudras
development. Inventions and innovations increase in number because of craftsmen,
workers craftsman, Pariah
technological advancement. soldiers)
peasants,
slaves
Political Evolution
Political evolution explains the ideas about the origin and nature of
society, the formation of the state, and the views about law, governance and
citizenship (Atienza, et.al, 2016). The early civilization showed the political
evolution in the society because of the developments that happen on a
particular time.
There are four major civilizations who became well-known in the
world: (1) Sumerian of West Asia; (2) Indus Valley of India; (3) Shang of
China; and (4) Egyptian along the Nile River. These civilizations are
considered as cradle of civilization that influenced the other societies. Below
are their important characteristics according to Contreras, et.al. (2016): (1)

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3. Pastoral
4. Agricultural
5. Industrial
ALIAGA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL 6. Post-Industrial

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS III. Make a timeline using the box below that shows the major developments
First Quarter-Module 3
and changer that happened to human society from hunting-gathering to
post-industrial stage. Use the rubrics given for the giving of scores.
Name of Learner: ___________________________ Date: ______________
Grade Level and Section: _____________________ CRITERIA 3 2 1

I. List one invention made during the indicated stages of societies. Use the The timeline has The timeline has The timeline has
Title
table below. creative title. effective title. a title.
STAGES INVENTIONS Accurate facts
Accurate facts Accurate facts
Content / Facts were given 50%
1. Hunting and Gathering were given 100%. were given 75%.
and below.

2. Horticultural The time line The time line

The time line
covers relevant covers relevant
3. Pastoral Organization covers relevant
time periods. time periods but time period but
with no intervals. were not uniform.
4. Agricultural

5. Industrial
IV. Assessment:
6. Post-Industrial
A. MATCHING TYPE. Let us review the definition of the important terms in
7. Political evolution in the four the lesson by matching the words in column A with its definition in column
major civilizations B. Write the letter of your correct answer on the space before the number.

A B
II. What are the major characteristics and developments of the different _____ 1. Biological evolution A. first stage of human evolution
stages of societies? Write down at least two characteristics for each by filling _____ 2. Natural selection B. considered as the first group of
up the table below. Homo sapiens for many years
_____ 3. Cultural evolution C. studies the past by excavating
artifacts and fossils
STAGES CHARACTERISTICS
_____ 4. Hominids D. much more intelligent hominids
1. Hunting and gathering _____ 5. Archaeologist E. handy man
_____ 6. Paleoanthropologist F. change of species in small ways
2. Horticultural _____ 7. Artifacts G. exhibits material and
nonmaterial evidences of the past

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_____ 8. Fossils H. wise man 7. Hominids are divided into categories based on the age of
_____ 9. Autralopithecus I. upright man artifacts and fossils found.
_____ 10. Homo habilis J. studies the origin & development
of human beings
8. Australopithecus are considered as the second stage of
_____ 11. Home erectus K. general term used to categorize
human evolution together with Sahelanthropus and
the group of early humans
_____ 12. Homo sapiens L. objects that were made and used Ardipithecus.
by humans 9. The 3.2 million years old Australopithecus afarensis fossil
_____ 13. Homo sapiens sapiens M. changes, modifications, and named “Lucy,” discovered in Egypt in November 1974.
variations in the genetics
_____ 14. Cro-Magnon N. changes or development in 10. Australopithecus disappeared in the evolutionary map
cultures million years ago and was replaced by the Homo.
_____ 15. Museum O. thinking man
P. preserved traces of species

B. TRUE OR FALSE. Assess whether the statements in the column A are

true or false. In the column B, write T if the statement is true and F if the
statement is false.

A B

1. Human behavior is the result of the interaction of both

biological and cultural factors.

2. Physical changes in the body of humans includes shape,

size of body organs, movement, and the development of the
feet in a straight posture.
3. Charles Darwin proved that the species develop and
evolve in form through natural selection.

4. Evolutionary ladder illustrates that the African great apes

are like the modern humans.

5. Artifacts and fossils are important sources of information

about the human evolution.

6. Social evolution refers to the changes or development in

cultures from a simple form to a more complex form of
human culture.