Homo Sapiens

 The word 'Homo Sapiens' is a Latin phrase that means 'Wise Man'. Perhaps a rather self congratulatory title we have awarded to ourselves. However, in terms of brain size and physical prowess, when compared to our cousins, we are not exceptional. For a long time, to the outside observer, it would have been uncertain as to whether we would be out-competed by one of cousin species (particularly Neanderthals and Denisovans) and become extinct . As it turned out, we are the only remaining species left of the genus 'Homo'.

To try and understand how this has happened is an important venture, not only for those with an interest in the past but also for those with an interest in the future.

Homo Sapiens developed in Africa and populations started to leave the continent around 60,000 years ago. They walked into lands that were populated with other human species who had left earlier. It is estimated that the first to leave, Homo Erectus, did so some 2 million years ago.

PALEOLITHIC: Hunter gatherer life style typified by moving between cave dwelling sites using basic stone tools.

MESOLITHIC: Development of settlements slowly end the mobile lifestyle. The start of animal domestication.

NEOLITHIC: Farming dominates with accompanying technologies such as house building.

Looking at the timeline, it is worth noting the accelerating trend. Humans spent a large amount of time in the Paleolithic. Then took a quick canter through the Mesolithic and then a final sprint through the Neolithic before the arrival of the Bronze age. These eras are bounded by technological developments such as agriculture, writing and engineering, along cultural developments such as art, religion and social structures. From modern times (the plastic age?) to the end of the stone age is a mere 7,000 years. In evolutionary terms, hardly any time at all. Certainly not enough to physically adapt from living in a cave with a hand axe to sitting on a chair in front of a computer, as I am doing now.