Bipedalism Research Paper

Shannon McGinn

Response Essay #1 Questions:
1) Discuss the importance of bipedalism. What other ways did Homo sapiens “win out”?

Bipedalism led to the success of Homo sapiens for several reasons. According to our textbook, as well as the notes, walking on two feet was much more energy efficient than moving on all fours. Having more energy leads to being able to accomplish more things in the daylight hours, such as finding or creating better shelter, finding more food, and more. Also, with the extra limbs freed up, the arms now allowed for food to be harvested from trees, or being able to be transported from place to place more easily. Arms, with opposable thumbs, meant that people could create tools and weapons, which they could use for hunting. Standing tall on their legs, Homo sapiens were able to see over the grasses that had previously impaired their long-distance vision. This new ability allowed them to see potential predators with greater ease, preventing them from being attacked from a preying enemy. Moving

While the exact date of the beginning of this movement isn’t definite, it is estimated to have been between 90,000 and 130,000 years ago, according to the Wikipedia article that was provided to us (however, hominids migrated out of the continent around 1.9 million years ago, per the lecture notes). Moving out of Africa meant that climates were different, allowing some to thrive, while others may have struggled. Various regional cultures developed after the migration, and an advanced form of intelligence due to brain development allowed a stronger degree of manipulation on nature, according to the lecture notes. Our textbook states that the main difference between a majority of humans is that of a cultural basis, and not so much of a physical or genetic