This course explores the evolution of humans and the factors that led to our dominance as a species on Earth. Participants will gain insights into the origin of mankind, the extinction of other human species, and the unique journey that led to our current position. The course covers topics such as different human species, migration patterns, physical adaptations, language development, and the role of aggression in human evolution. The teaching method includes presentations by evolutionary biologists, geneticists, and anthropologists, with a moderator facilitating discussions. This course is intended for individuals interested in evolutionary biology, anthropology, human history, and the factors that shaped the success of the human species.
Overview
Syllabus
John Hockenberry's Introduction
An abstract look at evolution.
Participant Introductions.
How many different species were there 100,000 years ago?
Why did certain populations move?
Does the fossil record suggest that everything started in Africa?
Did the early groups compete directly or was there luck involved?
Where neanderthals slowly going extinct as humans came onto the scene.
What would we have seen in the physicality of neanderthals?
Are there any rapid physical adaptations from neanderthal?
Do encounters of different species make for more rapid evolution?
The greatest human variations are in Africa.
Going to the dentist 100,000 years ago.
Early cave paintings and the beginning of human communication.
The gene for language?
What was the evolutionary accelerator for humans?
Do we see signs today of evolutionary mistakes?
Being an aggressive species leads us to the top.
Taught by
World Science Festival
