Evolution of hominin intelligence

This article is currently being developed as part of an Eduzendium student project. If you are not involved with this project, please refrain from collaboratively developing it until this notice is removed. Articles that lack this notice, including many Eduzendium ones, welcome your collaboration!

Intelligence

Intelligence also means to understand. However, there are several ways to define intelligence. Intelligence may include traits such as reasoning, planning, think, conprehend ideas, language, learn and problem solving. Along with creativity, personality, knowledge and wisdom. The evolution of hominid intelligence can be looked at environmental challenged throughout time and it can be traced over the past 10 million years (Citation Neded).

Development of the Brain

Up until approximately 5 million years ago and the beginning of the Pliocene era where we begin to notice the development of the hominid brain (Citation needed) before this time period, the hominoid brain was no larger then the brain of other mammals of similar size. However, a larger skull created a problem for the female hominids because it required the female to have a larger birth canal. A larger and wider pelvis would lose her ability to use the other motor skills, such as running (Citation Needed) that was used for survival

Human intelligence can be measure by the size of the brain. It is believed that the size of the brain determines the intelligence of the individual.

Pleistocene (1.8 million years ago)

Australopithecus are related to hominid but during this era, Hominid brain size increased, which suggest the increase of intelligence. Approximately 2million years ago, Homo Habilis showed characteristic of modern hominid. Evidence of Stone tool, such as stone and teeth and claws from other animals was used which gave evidence that hominid diet increased from herbivore to carnivore. Understanding to use of stone tool allow Homo Habilis to cut hid and cut meat, thus increases their understanding to adapt to their environment.

Stone tool The use of stone tools required larger brain mass to completed such skill to survive.

Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens and Neanderthal Man

 Homo habilis
   Australopithecus evolved bipedal; however, hominids developed a variety of things      
   that Modern Man uses today, such as culture, art, religion, language and tools.   The 
   first species to appear in the genus Homos is Homo habilis, which evolved around 2 
   million years ago. The skull is thinner and more rounded, which suggest intelligence 
   and lager brain mass.   Even though their cranial capacity and body size was about half 
   of Modern Man, their hand and feet are similar in size to that of Modern Man. Less 
   prominent jaw and artifacts that were found with the fossil suggest that they utilized 
   and advanced stone flakes for stone tools (Insert Citation).  It is observed that H. 
   Habilis did not use tool for defense or hunting but it was used for cleaving meat off 
   and for scavenging.
 
 Homo erectus
   Homo erectus was more diverse and developed better tools and weapon.  Highly sexual 
   dimorphic, their brain size is approximately 950cc, while their height was 5’10” 
   (males).  Believed to be the first human species of hunter-gatherer society, their cranial 
   capacity suggests more sophisticated tool technology (Insert Citation).    It is also 
    believed that Homo erectus is the first to be able to hunt in a large scale tame fire, to 
    live in small society, and care for others.   

Classification