Cultural EvolutionNext Factor in Drake Equation: fc• fc: fraction of planets with intelligent life thatdevelop a technological phase, during whichthere is a capability for and interest ininterstellar communication• No significant biological evolution in last40,000 to 100,000 years• Evolutionary Takeover– Cultural evolution instead of biological– Much shorter timescaleConcepts1. Timescales2. Origin of agriculture3. Extra-somatic information storage4. Tools, technology5. Interactions: written language, cities, taxes,classes, technology6. Interest in communication7. World view evolution8. Coupling between technology and world viewImportance of farming• The rise of civilizations all based on farming• Understand origins of agriculture• How likely to arise?• Did it arise independently more than once?Origin of Agriculture10,000 years ago within 50-100 miles of Dead SeaNatufian culture - well built houses & signs of rankHarvested wild wheat, barley - used flint sickles,Stone mortars, and huntedClimate becomes hotter, drierOvercrowding, shortages led to need for food sourcefavors annuals over perennials shorter cyclelarger seeds in husks - easier to collectSave, plant, harvestEvidence: seeds in settlements of Natufians successorsMutant: fatter, adheres to husk betterfi domestication, selection without forethought leads to rapid evolution of wheat and hunting decreases rapidlyDomestication (and farmers?) spread northwardat ~ 1 km/yearHole & McCorriston American Anthropology~ April 1991Agriculture leads to higher level political organizationInformationGenes 1010 bits (or less)Brains 1014 bits 1400 cm3 in humans flExtra-somatic information leads to communication: information passedbetween individuals.Allows societies to evolve.Cooperative hunting?Traditions and LoreSumeria (record keeping)Business, TaxesChinaEuropeItalyFirst “strong” broadcast400,000? 30,000?~ 8500 B.C.~ 3000 B.C.~ 100 A.D.1456 A.D.1895~ 1936~ 1950’s~ 1990’sOral languageOral historiansClay tokensClay tabletsPaperPrinting pressRadioTelevisionComputersWorld-wide-webInformation and Intelligence• Can we think of extra-somatic information asintelligence?• Collective “intelligence” of the species• But cannot be assimilated by any individual• Collective knowledge does lead to ability toengage in interstellar communicationTools and TechnologyStoneOldowan 2.4 Myr H. habilis Acheulian 1.6 Myr H. erectusMousterian 200,000 yr NeanderthalsPaleolithic 90,000 yr H.sapiens (Africa)Paleolithic 40,000 yr H.sapiens (Europe)Pottery 7,000 BCEWheel 6,500 BCE SumeriaOldowan Tools• OLDOWAN TOOLS(left to right): endchopper, heavy-dutyscraper, spheroidhammer stone(Olduvai Gorge); flakechopper (Gadeb);bone point, horn coretool or digger(Swartkrans).From http://www.handprint.com/LS/ANC/stones.htmlAcheulian• ACHEULEAN TOOLS(left to right): cleaverstone (Bihorei oest,France); lanceolatehand ax (Briqueterie,France); large hand ax(Olduvai Gorge).Mousterian• MOUSTERIAN TOOLS(left to right): cutteror point, Levalloiscore and point,Aterian point withbase tang, double-sided scraper (varioussites in France).Upper Paleolithic• UPPER PALEOLITHICTOOLS (left to right):biconical bone point,Perigordian flint blade,prismatic blade core,Soluterean Willow leafpoint, double-rowbarbed harpoon point(various sites inFrance).Tools and TechnologyMetalCopper Tools 4,000 BCEBronze Tools 2,800 BCEIron Tools 1,500 BCEIndustrial RevolutionMass ProductionSiliconTransistor 1948 U.S.Microchip 1959Internet 1990’sMetal ToolsBronzeIronCopperUniqueness1. AgricultureAt least 5 (and maybe 9) independent originsSouthwest Asia, China, Mesoamerica, Andes,Eastern U.S.2. Written language2-4 independent originsSumer, Mesoamerica, China(?), Egypt (??)Only after farmingFrom Guns, Germs, and Steel Jared DiamondFrom Guns, Germs, and Steel Jared DiamondUniqueness3. Centralized states, specializationSeveral independent originsOnly after farming4. Metal useNear EastNew World (Andes) mostly decorative5. Industrial Revolution, modern electronics(no test possible - all world in contact)AgricultureSettled LifestylesLarger CommunitiesPossessions, BarterSpecialization,RecordsClassesTaxesWritten LanguageLarge ProjectsWealthTools, technologyLeisure ClassPhilosophers, ScienceGermsDomination of Other CulturesWeaponsResistanceQuestionsHow does cultural evolution differ frombiological evolution?Does “natural selection” operate in culturalevolution?If so, is technology an “advantageous trait”?Is “cultural evolution” a valid description
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