When and where did Homo sapiens originate? Describe some of the earliest examples of the species that have been discovered. When and how did they spread across the various continents of the world. What distinguished Homo sapiens from Homo neanderthalenis in Europe and Homo erectus in Asia? What theories explain the disappearance of these earlier species? What were the major adaptational strategies that enabled Homo sapiens to spread into so many different parts of the world? What qualities differentiate Homo sapiens within the species today? When did Homo sapiens enter the western hemisphere and from where? Discuss the different theories from Bering Sea crossing to coastal adaptations. When did Homo sapiens first start to organize permanent settlements and where. What major changes in technologies enable them to create permanent settlements and why. What advantages did agriculture offer Homo sapiens populations? What are the drawbacks of settled life, increased population and animal domestication and agriculture?
