Charles Darwin and More

CHARLES DARWIN

1809-1892 English naturalist who

established the organic theory of evolution known as Darwinism

Evolution: Concept that existing animals and plants developed by a process of gradual, continuous change from previously existing forms

EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS OF HUMAN ORIGINS

Drawn from direct observations from the 18th century

Relied on the scientific method Rejected the simultaneous creation of all species in

favor of the cumulative creation of species

NATURAL SELECTION

Based on the picture to the left, what do you believe natural selection means?

Natural Selection: The process by which favorable traits that are heritable become more common in successive generations of a population of reproducing organisms, and unfavorable traits that are heritable become less common.

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School and Library Information    © 2011 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.   

Essentially: there is no one direct link between homo sapiens and our ancestors…

Human “family tree” is more like a “family bush,” within which it is impossible to connect a full chronological series of species, leading to Homo sapiens...

Louis and Mary Leakey

o Leakeys focused on the Olduvai Gorge region of eastern Tanzania.

o 1974: Australopithecine remains were soon discovered.

o 1976: Mary made her most famous discovery—several sets of bipedal hominid footprints. Full bipedal locomotion had been achieved as early as 3.75 million years ago,

o Important because: bipedal locomotion is considered a defining human characteristic AND it attracted much worldwide attention

IMPORTANT ARCHAEOLOGISTS

OLDUVAI GORGE

"Charles Darwin." Image. Library of Congress. World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 8 Sept. 2011. "Donald Johanson." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 8 Sept. 2011. Evolution: human lineage pathways. Art. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 8  Sept.  2011.  <http://www.school.eb.com/eb/art-45440>.Human evolution." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2011. Web. 8  Sept.  2011.<http://www.school.eb.com/eb/article-9117282>."Louis and Mary Leakey." Image. Bettmann/Corbis. World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 8 Sept. 2011"Louis and Mary Leakey." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 8 Sept. 2011. “Lucy.” Image. http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/lucy.html, 11/30/2002 Copyright © Jim Foley"Olduvai Gorge." Image. William Warby. World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 8 Sept. 2011."Topographic Map." Map. World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 8 Sept. 2011.

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