THEMES IN AFRICAN HISTORY

The origin of man;

-There are two theories which explain the origin of Man:

Ø Creation theory

Ø Evolution theory

                             I.            CREATION THEORY

-This theory simply state that “Man was created by God as appears today” He has not changed.

-He was created to be the master of nature and therefore, there is not time man has ever being a slave of nature.

-He was created to be the master of environment like Animals and plants.

-The notion of creation is found in Holly Books such as “HOLLY BIBLE AND HOLLY QURAN”

-In the Holly Bible in Genesis 1:26-39

-In Holly Quran “God breathe out onto the soil and Man was created”

                         II.            EVOLUTION THEORY.

Ø Man and other forms of life have undergone gradual development from simple forms to complex human creature of today.

Ø Evolution is the gradual process of change through which species adapt themselves to the changing of environment and in the period of time developed gradually from simple forms to complex forms.

Ø The profounder/ founder of this theory was “CHARLES DARWIN” in 18^thcentury.

Ø The theory of human evolution tells us by 30 million years ago, there existence a group of primates, these primates were known as “Old world monkey, new world monkey and Apes (gorillas and chimpanzes).

Ø As the time went on some primates like old world monkey and new world monkey became extinct (disappear), only Apes continue to live on Earth.

Ø At about 14-12 million years ago B.C ,Apes became to develop along separate line:-

vChimpanzes and orangutans

vGigantopithecus

vRamapithecus

Ø Also by 5 millions ago chimpanzee and orangutans and Gigantopithecus they became extinct in the earth only remain Ramapithecus. Therefore Ramapithecus is remained group, Also is said to be the eariest known representative of the hominid family to which the modern Human being belongs.

Ø HOMINID- is the biological term means the early Human like creatures with larged brains and ability to walk on two legs as well as making and use tools and language development.

Ø Ramapithecus involved into the following species:

vAustralopithecene

vAustralopithecus

vHomoerectus

vHomosapiens

vMeandarthal man

vHomo sapiens sapiens( Modern human being)

CHANGES OF MAN

Ø The basic factor that influence and condition Man evolution was Environment.

Ø During the Eocene and Oligocene period ( 50 million years ago to 25 million years ago).the environment was characterized by extensive rainforest.

Ø But during Miocene and Pliocene (25millions years ago to 2 million years ago). There were greatly physical and climatic changes on the earth.

Ø Experience with massive faulting which produce ranges of mountains like Alps, Himalayas, Andes, Atlas and Rockies.

Ø At later stage between 1.5-1.2 million years ago similar movement produce the great African lift valley also produce a series of lakes.

Ø The volcanic mountains emerge at this time.

Ø Climatically there was a change from wet to drier conditions leading to the disappearance of forest in most part of the earth and predominant of grasses and thorny shrubs.

Ø These changes of environment forced their ancestor of man to adopt terrestrial life (living on land) instead of living on forest/ trees and to live on land.

Ø This situation was aided/supported by the development of BIPEDALISM.

Ø BIPEDALISM means standing on hind/back limbs, whereby before they use four limbs, and fore limbs using to collect food.

Ø The process of standing on hind limbs enabled the ancestor of man to reach foods in trees by using fore limbs and could easier to see enermies and run away faster.

Ø Also Bi pedalism enable the ancestor of man to use fore limbs to make and to use tools, and its where develop labour process.

Ø Development of labour such as making and using tools involved thinking, thinking led to increase in brain capacity and development of consciousness.

Ø Since labour was in complicated activity it necessitated some kind of communication thus man slowly developed language.

Ø A man born to acquire language.

Ø Tool making was a gradual process which depends on brain enlargement.

Ø Tool making was began in Paleolithic period (old stone age) at this time man made simple stone tools like choppers, hand axes etc. both of this tools was discovered on Oldvai gorge in Arusha.

Ø These stone tools were more improved in middle stone age (Mesolithic period) and late stone age (Neolithic period).

                                                            

WHY AFRICA IS SAID TO BE CRADLE OF MANKIND

Ø Discoveries made point to Africa as the original home of mankind and the principle center of Human evolution. Different discoveries indicate those early human beings are believed to live in Africa. For example, the fossils of a creature named “Kenyapithecus” are believed to be discovered in Fort Ternan in Kenya.

Ø This creature is believed to live about 14 million years ago and belong to a group of Ramapithecus.

Ø Also there was a group of Australopithecus Africanus and Robustus.

Ø The fossils of this creature had been discovered in Krondrai and Makayangsgat, stekfontein and Tang which found in South Africa.

Ø  Also Australopithecus Robustus which include zinjaslopus discovered in East Africa found in Oldvai gorge, Laitoi site in Tanzania, in Kodafrola, Trukana in Kenya.

Ø  Also Homohabilis “Tool making creature” They discovery oldvai gorge, Lake Trukana in Kenya also in Hada Ethiopia.

HOMO ERECTUS

-This creature was completely uplight and widely distributed east Africa, Europe