Earth’s Climates and Human Evolution
Warm Climates
Located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, warm climates have high temperatures but rainfall varies greatly. There are three varieties:
Equatorial Climate
High temperatures, heavy rain throughout the year, and jungle vegetation.
Tropical Climate
Wet and dry seasons, high temperatures, and savannah vegetation.
Tropical Desert Climate
Little rain, very hot days, cold nights, and sparse vegetation (mainly in oases).
Temperate Climates
These climates extend from the tropics to the polar circles and have four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. There are three varieties:
Mediterranean Climate
Mild, short winters; warm, dry, long summers; rain in spring and autumn; Mediterranean forest vegetation.
Oceanic Climate
Frequent rain and clouds, mild temperatures, vegetation with oak, beech, and chestnut trees.
Continental Climate
Long, cold winters with temperatures below zero; hot, short summers; summer rains and winter snows; vegetation includes pines, firs, birches, and meadows.
Cold Climates
Two types of cold climates exist:
Polar Climate
Lowest temperatures on Earth, almost no rain, tundra and moss vegetation.
High Mountain Climate
Very low temperatures, precipitation as snow.
Human Evolution
Scientific theories suggest human evolution as follows:
- Australopithecus: First ancestor, appeared about five million years ago.
- Homo habilis: Appeared 2 million years ago, made stone tools, lived by hunting and gathering.
- Homo erectus: Appeared 1 million years ago, invented fire.
- Neanderthal Man: Existed 120 thousand years ago, produced various stone tools, buried their dead, had religious beliefs.
- Homo sapiens sapiens: Appeared about 40 thousand years ago, spread to every continent, our species.
Prehistoric Life
- Nomadic lifestyle, moving to follow hunted animals.
- Lived in caves for protection, used animal skins for clothing.
- Main activities were hunting and fishing.
- Gathered fruits, tubers, and herbs.
Stages of Human History
- Prehistory: From human origins to the invention of writing.
- Ancient History: From the invention of writing to the fall of the Roman Empire.
- Medieval History: From the fall of the Roman Empire (476) to the discovery of America (1492).
- Modern History: From the discovery of America to the French Revolution (1789).
- Contemporary History: From the French Revolution to the present.
- Current History: Some consider the last 60 years a new historical stage.
Agricultural Revolution
What is a Revolution?
The emergence of agriculture and livestock as new food sources marked a revolution in human lives around 10,000 years ago in the Middle East, India, and China.
This era is called the Neolithic period. Climate change reduced wild game and gatherable products, forcing humans to find new food sources.
Agricultural activities led to significant changes:
- People settled in villages, ending nomadic life.
- More complex social organization emerged.
- Trade began, first locally, then expanding.
- New techniques like pottery, textiles, and basketry developed.
- Improved diet led to longer lives and population growth.
- Culture and thought became more complex, leading to the origin of religions.
The Neolithic Revolution was the first major revolution, followed by the Industrial Revolution and the current technological revolution.