HST 101: World Civilization Assignment: Modern Humans to Kingdoms

This assignment, prepared for HST 101 - World Civilization, explores key aspects of early human history. Part 1 delves into the advantages of bipedalism, its role in human evolution, and the environmental adaptations that facilitated survival in diverse environments. Part 2 examines the emergence of hobbits, discussing their origins and unique characteristics, and the transition from foraging cultures to agricultural settlements, highlighting the impact of selective breeding on both plants and animals. The assignment draws upon lectures and textbook materials, providing a comprehensive overview of these critical periods in human development and societal transformation, including the shift from cities to kingdoms. It covers the evolution of modern humans and the factors that shaped early civilizations.

Running head: HISTORY 101
HISTORY 101
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1HISTORY 101
World Civilization
Part 1
Option 1
Advantages of bipedalism are that every future species of hominid would carry the trait.
Hominids are allowed by bipedalism in freeing their arms totally, which enables them in making
as well as using the tools efficiently, use hands in social communication and display and stretch
for the fruits in the trees. They could see also further over savannah grass. However this could be
disadvantage also as the predators could spot them probably more easily. More time could be
spend by bipedal hominids foraging as well as scavenging in open savannah as their bodies could
be exposed in less standing upright sunlight (Plomp, Dobney and Collard 2020). Improved
bipedalism was major evolutionary advantage for the hominids.
Using two limbs for walking was much more energy saving when compared on walking
using four limbs. Walking upon two feet could be much more efficient when compared to
knuckle walking as well as free arms for doing other activities. To be upright exposes smaller
surface of body to sun also, factor which is essential to venture form rainforest to woodlands.
Hence as time flew and there was evolution of hominids, walking upright turned out to be
beneficial to them as well as fitting adaptation. It is indicated by fossil record that hominids
could live in different two environments. Record indicates also that through stone tools’ use, the
hominids could have meat additionally for their diets (Senut et al. 2018). The observations about
changes and development of brain size were noted also. Brain size’s development is correlated to
consistent, constant cognitive developments.

2HISTORY 101
Ball and socket joint is most mobile type of joint, which allows in swinging the legs and
arms in several different directions. Hinge joints like elbow and knee act as lever which enables
the legs and arms in flexing and straightening. Movement is same to opening as well as closing
of hinged door. Semi movable joints like spine allow only partial movement. In pivot joint, a
bone is twisted by another.
Part 2
Option 1
It is similarity of hobbits with ancient ape men of Africa which gives evidence of the
ancient origins of hobbits. Hobbits are fictional race about half in height of the humans. Hobbits
were species that is specifically characterized by small stature. The hobbits were smaller in size
for existing hominids which preceded them. Hobbits’ shrinkage for physical stature could be
attributed for some kind of adaptation. The historians are still not sure about case which spring
boarded mutation for size. Few species in that time period either grew gigantically to ancestral
species or considerably shrank. From the available information, it is known that hobbits were
earlier rafts builders as place of origin for them was island (Sutikna, Tocheri and Roberts 2016).
They developed also tools that were much more advanced than other species which signified
their use for hunting weapons.
Isolation might have contributed in their shrinking as this did for elephants’ previous
species. Isolation is speculated cause for gigantism also which developed within other species
such as reptiles. Few evidence suggests hobbits died due to huge eruption of volcano. Hobbits
were descendants of race for ancient, far larger humans who thrived million years before

3HISTORY 101
(Laitman 2017). Such people became stranded on island and had shrunk then in evolutionary
response for limited resources of the island.
Option 2
It is critical part for transition to farming from foraging. Neolithic Age started with
increase of summer temperatures which rise for 2000 years. Re-settlement of the old hamlets was
encouraged by such new climate that quickly expanded to villages having 300 to 500 inhabitants.
During that time, people were collecting grain, though also started in planting fields too.
Through refining constantly selective breeding’s process, the settlers could weed out types of
grain which ripened early (Janssen et al. 2017). After accomplishing that, they started harvesting
the grain’s fields annually at same time. The farmers continued in hunting. In the hunts, they
captured wild young sheep and goats.
Again by utilizing as well as refining selective breeding’s process, the settlers could
accustom animals in living with the humans in homes as well as designated pens. It is first
domestication for livestock. Later in 6500 BC, donkeys, pigs and cattle were added. Transition to
farming from foraging would be complete soon. Dogs were first animal which were
domesticated successfully. Domesticated dogs were essential factor for human society (de Haas,
Koenen and Veerkamp 2019). This was for them, humans experimented first and mastered then
domestication techniques. After domesticated, dogs assisted also with herding of domesticated
animals such as sheep. Wild goats and sheep would follow soon dogs’ domestication.

4HISTORY 101
References
de Haas, Y., Koenen, E. and Veerkamp, R.F., 2019. Selective breeding as a mitigation tool for
methane intensity of dairy cattle. In Proceedings of the 7th GGAA–Greenhouse Gas and Animal
Agriculture Conference (No. 135, pp. 43-43).
Janssen, K., Chavanne, H., Berentsen, P. and Komen, H., 2017. Impact of selective breeding on
European aquaculture. Aquaculture, 472, pp.8-16.
Laitman, J.T., 2017. Extreme cousins of ours who are no more: From massive Gigantopithecus
to diminutive Flores “hobbits.”. The FASEB Journal, 31(1_supplement), pp.86-4.
Plomp, K.A., Dobney, K. and Collard, M., 2020. Spondylolysis and spinal adaptations for
bipedalism: The overshoot hypothesis. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 2020(1), pp.35-
44.
Senut, B., Pickford, M., Gommery, D. and Ségalen, L., 2018. Palaeoenvironments and the origin
of hominid bipedalism. Historical Biology, 30(1-2), pp.284-296.
Sutikna, T., Tocheri, M.W. and Roberts, R.G., 2016. The'hobbits' were extinct much earlier than
first thought.