how people survived ?

[Hydra009]

even for stealing and insect eating any monkey will leave people in shame

True, but insects aren't exactly rare.

One of the great things about human beings is their versatility - when it comes to food, humans can be VERY flexible - a lot more flexible than a strictly carnivore or a strictly vegetarian species.

To be honest, I don't really know exactly what early homo sapiens fed on. But it's likely to be a mix of sources. Certainly, once humans developed hunting large animals, and later, agriculture, the threat of starvation lessened significantly.

modern humans ,tool using and creative has not been here all that long

They've been around for about 3 million years. I consider that a long time.

why would gaining mental abilities require loss of physical?

Because the human brain requires a LOT of blood.

what about the children?
we have loads of disatvantages in that area...

But these disadvantages are not prohibitive.

 

[drlao23]

Where is the evidence that we are "so much weaker" than our closest relatives? Admittedly, I wouldn't stand a chance against an adult male gorilla, but I think I could take a chimp or bonobo in a fight. And even in they are stronger, what exactly does their strength let them do that we can't or speed? Chimps are protected from predators by living in groups, mostly, the same way we are.

 

[nvxplorer]

Where is the evidence that we are "so much weaker" than our closest relatives? Admittedly, I wouldn't stand a chance against an adult male gorilla, but I think I could take a chimp or bonobo in a fight. And even in they are stronger, what exactly does their strength let them do that we can't or speed? Chimps are protected from predators by living in groups, mostly, the same way we are.

A chimp would tear you to shreds. Not only do they possess superior strength, but the leverage from their arms is sufficient to literally rip you limb from limb.

 

[Nymphalidae]

I heard a theory from my animal behavior professor when I was an undergrad that following the wildebeast migrations is what allowed us to grow such big brains. Many of the animals would die during the migration, allowing easy pickings for hominids, and sufficient energy to allow for an increase in brain size over time. I have no idea how valid this theory is, but it's interesting.

 

[Floodnut]

People survive because they are intelligent. They can make boomerangs for crying out loud, without computers and wind tunnels!

 

[drlao23]

A chimp would tear you to shreds. Not only do they possess superior strength, but the leverage from their arms is sufficient to literally rip you limb from limb.

Your say-so really isn't evidence. I say bring him on.

 

[GodsSamus]

people seems so fragile in comparison with other apes,
and generally animals,also the children take very long
time to reach adulthood

i wonder,how did people survive?

how is it possible that people who live
the ancient way,once they leave their environment,catch up really fast with modern world ?

just a few questions for fun

Aren't you ASSUMING we are apes?

 

[pantsman52]

Aren't you ASSUMING we are apes?

Nope, genetics and biological science shows that we are part of the ape family.

 

[nvxplorer]

Your say-so really isn't evidence. I say bring him on.

LOL

Seriously though, the power in any ape's arm, through muscular strength and leverage, is several magnitudes greater than that of a human. With human physiology and strength, they could not be the tree dwellers they are.

 

[nvxplorer]

Aren't you ASSUMING we are apes?

Aron-Ra wrote an excellent piece explaining this. It received post of the month honors at talkorigins.

http://www.talkorigins.org/origins/postmonth/may03.html

 

[b*unique]

People survive because they are intelligent. They can make boomerangs for crying out loud, without computers and wind tunnels!

were they inteligent to start with?

were the children of early humans
growing up much faster?

i want this to stay fun,and scientific please!

 

[ushishir]

were they inteligent to start with?

yes, not as intelligent as now but not dumb, and intelligence (as measured by brain size) has increased throughout the human lineage.

were the children of early humans
growing up much faster?

they did seem to have a different rate of growth to modern humans. Homo erectus seems to have matured earlier:

"Studies of Plio-Pleistocene hominids (the australopithecines and habilines) have demonstrated that early hominids followed an ape-like rate and pattern of growth and development, with the implication being that later hominids became more similar to modern humans over the course of evolution"

"The results of Smith’s (1993) work suggest that Homo erectus was more human-like in its growth and development than earlier hominids, but that it had not yet achieved the modern human rate and pattern of growth"

The place of Neandertals in the evolution of hominid patterns of growth and development. Jennifer L. Thompson et al. Journal of Human Evolution (2000) 38, 475–495

It is also not oftern realised that in some physical measures humans actually perform better than most other animals, Noteably endurance running. Although many animals beat human in a sprint over long distances there is almost no animal that can beat humans. People aren't quite as feeble as you might think.

 

[b*unique]

yes, not as intelligent as now but not dumb, and intelligence (as measured by brain size) has increased throughout the human lineage.

this would mean a jump ,not a slow process
other animals are very inteligent,cats,pigs,squirels,ravens,and apes of course
but all of them have the physical advantages of their kind as well

they did seem to have a different rate of growth to modern humans. Homo erectus seems to have matured earlier:

"Studies of Plio-Pleistocene hominids (the australopithecines and habilines) have demonstrated that early hominids followed an ape-like rate and pattern of growth and development, with the implication being that later hominids became more similar to modern humans over the course of evolution"

"The results of Smith’s (1993) work suggest that Homo erectus was more human-like in its growth and development than earlier hominids, but that it had not yet achieved the modern human rate and pattern of growth"

The place of Neandertals in the evolution of hominid patterns of growth and development. Jennifer L. Thompson et al. Journal of Human Evolution (2000) 38, 475–495

It is also not oftern realised that in some physical measures humans actually perform better than most other animals, Noteably endurance running. Although many animals beat human in a sprint over long distances there is almost no animal that can beat humans. People aren't quite as feeble as you might think.

i wonder why all other humanoids are extinct,do you know other animals
exclusive as people?
i just wonder what they are

i don't know,i see people very fragile comparing to animals
from babies/children to old people

 

[HouseApe]

this would mean a jump ,not a slow process
other animals are very inteligent,cats,pigs,squirels,ravens,and apes of course
but all of them have the physical advantages of their kind as well

Why do you think it would mean a jump?

i wonder why all other humanoids are extinct,do you know other animals
exclusive as people?
i just wonder what they are

Giraffes. Elephants. Hippos. There are many as exclusive as humans. Would a cat know the difference between a chimp and a human?

i don't know,i see people very fragile comparing to animals
from babies/children to old people

What you are missing here is that any tiger could kill any human. But humans don't live alone. Any group of 5 humans with spears could easily kill a tiger. Humans are easily, as a group, the most powerful animals.

And a million years ago, Homo Erectus was probably half as smart as modern humans, but compensated for that by being twice as strong.

 

[b*unique]

Why do you think it would mean a jump?

to have inteligence from start

Giraffes. Elephants. Hippos. There are many as exclusive as humans. Would a cat know the difference between a chimp and a human?

cat,definitely

What you are missing here is that any tiger could kill any human. But humans don't live alone. Any group of 5 humans with spears could easily kill a tiger. Humans are easily, as a group, the most powerful animals.

yes,but they need the spears
to get them,they need time
do you think a group of humans would survive attact of any other animal group,just armed with rocks?

And a million years ago, Homo Erectus was probably half as smart as modern humans, but compensated for that by being twice as strong.

half smart..hmm..so about the level of mentaly retarded person

would mentaly retarded people survive,if they were stronger?
they stil were weaker than anyother apes,right?

 

[HouseApe]

to have inteligence from start

Chimps are pretty smart. They survive quite well. We started with their intelligence and strength. As we've become less strong, we've compensated it with intelligence. So we've survived quite well also. See?

yes,but they need the spears
to get them,they need time
do you think a group of humans would survive attact of any other animal group,just armed with rocks?

Absolutely. 10 humans could kill a couple of lions bare handed. But keep in mind, predators aren't generally going to attack a large group of humans in the first place. Predators don't like to attack animals that will fight back. They might win, but they know the risk of injury is too great.

half smart..hmm..so about the level of mentaly retarded person

would mentaly retarded people survive,if they were stronger?
they stil were weaker than anyother apes,right?

Sure, would you walk into a room and take on 5 enormous strong, incredibly tough and mean mentally retarded guys? A lion would probably know better also.

 

[b*unique]

Chimps are pretty smart. They survive quite well. We started with their intelligence and strength. As we've become less strong, we've compensated it with intelligence. So we've survived quite well also. See?

hmm,there is noot exactly any link between chimps and humans,is here?
anyway,if they were succesful,why change?

Absolutely. 10 humans could kill a couple of lions bare handed. But keep in mind, predators aren't generally going to attack a large group of humans in the first place. Predators don't like to attack animals that will fight back. They might win, but they know the risk of injury is too great.

i doubt that,how could bare handed people kill any huge beast?
what about large group of gorilas?or chimps?
would people survive?

Sure, would you walk into a room and take on 5 enormous strong, incredibly tough and mean mentally retarded guys? A lion would probably know better also.

5 lions?5 gorillas?

you see all the humanoids disapeared,why is that?we know they coexisted
how homo sapiens,people looking like us,inteligent like us came about?
did they come with tools?

you see,i am not disputing anything..just wondering

 

[Governed Apology Exploded]

why would gaining mental abilities require loss of physical?

Energy conservation. The less energy you need, the less food you have to hunt or gather to survive. Having weak but intelligent creatures was apparently superior to strong, intelligent, high energy requirement creatures.

 

[b*unique]

Energy conversion. The less energy you need, the less food you have to hunt or gather to survive. Having weak but intelligent creatures was apparently superior to strong, intelligent, high energy requirement creatures.

so the first people would have to be superstrong,super fast and very inteligent,,and once they know what they're doing,they can get weaker?
it does not really look that way

why loose the fur?

 

[And-U-Say]

LOL

Seriously though, the power in any ape's arm, through muscular strength and leverage, is several magnitudes greater than that of a human. With human physiology and strength, they could not be the tree dwellers they are.

My guess, and its only a guess, is that chimps would fair very poorly in a one on one fight with a human. Agreed that they are stronger. But strength is not the only factor. I have seen, in nature shows and at zoos, chimps fighting. For better or for worse, they are really bad at it. They slap and bite and grab. But give me a good jab or roundhouse any day. I think the chimp would flee after a few well placed punches.