After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

2.1 Explain how cosmologies regarding human origins differ from the scientific view of evolution.

2.2 Discuss how the scientific revolution provided the context for the theory of evolution.

2.3 Explain how natural selection works.

2.4 Describe how early hominins are different from other primates.

2.5 Discuss how Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, Homo floresiensis, and Homo naledi differ from australopithecines.

2.6 Discuss the cultural characteristics of Homo erectus.

2.7 Describe the physical and cultural characteristics of Neandertals.

2.8 Discuss the three models of evolutionary development of modern humans.

2.9 Describe the cultural features of the Upper Paleolithic.

2.10 Discuss the factors of natural selection that influence skin color differences in modern humans.