Let's state from the very beginning. This article does not in the least pretend to be scientific. However, the changes that have occurred with modern man, in comparison with the hunter-gatherer of the end of the Paleolithic (about 10 thousand years BC and earlier) and even the subsequent Neolithic nomad and farmer, are so significant that they are noticeable not only to specialists. It is right to say that before our eyes a new species of man is being born or even has already been born. Is it so?
HOMO SAPIENS AS HE IS
As you know, our species - homo sapiens or Homo sapiens - belongs to the genus people, the hominid family, the order of primates, the class mammals, the chordate type. Science claims that the earliest representatives of the Homo sapiens species appeared on the planet from 400 to 250 thousand years ago. Then, about 80 thousand years ago, people left Africa, where they lived quite compactly, and in another 40 thousand years they populated almost the entire earth. And for 40 thousand years, man has been the dominant and most important living being on it. If by importance we understand his ability to influence the world around him (external environment) and himself. Why is it important? Because the modern definition of a species as a group of individuals with common traits (morphophysiological, biochemical and behavioral) also suggests that this group changes similarly under the influence of environmental factors. Changes!Let's remember this.
ENVIRONMENT AND LIFESTYLE
It is obvious that the habitat of modern man differs from that of man of the late Paleolithic and Neolithic times, radically. And accordingly affects us with you. Even some 150 years ago, everywhere, including in large cities, stoves were heated, the darkness was dispersed with the help of fire, they moved on foot and in carts pulled by horses, they ate food that did not differ much from that which was produced by a thousand and two thousand years ago. Yes, in large cities the air and water were already polluted with industrial waste and furnace smoke. Yes, the same Europe was rapidly urbanizing. But the absolute majority of the world's population lived, one might say, in nature - in villages, townships, villages, on farms and in small towns with a thousand or two inhabitants. Just like their grandfathers, great-grandfathers and great-great-great-grandfathers. Sure,our ancestor a century and a half ago was different from an ancestor who lived ten or fifteen thousand years ago. He often used things that were mass-produced in a factory, and not in a village blacksmith's, had much more varied tools (and they were much more perfect), moved less (especially in cities), had more free time. But in general, we repeat, the difference in habitat and lifestyle was not dramatic. Forest and steppe with wild animals approached the cities. It was necessary to drive a couple of tens of miles or miles from the city outpost, and a person found himself face to face with the wild nature, full of dangers. Which required virtually the same skills, physical strength and even mentality that were inherent in the primitive hunter and gatherer. He often used things that were mass-produced in a factory, and not in a village smithy, had a much more varied tools of labor (and they were much better), moved less (especially in cities), had more free time. But in general, we repeat, the difference in habitat and lifestyle was not cardinal. Forest and steppe with wild animals approached the cities. It was worth driving a couple of tens of versts or miles from the city outpost, and a person found himself face to face with a wild nature full of dangers. Which required virtually the same skills, physical strength and even mentality that were inherent in the primitive hunter and gatherer. He often used things that were mass-produced in a factory, and not in a village blacksmith's, had much more varied tools (and they were much more perfect), moved less (especially in cities), had more free time. But in general, we repeat, the difference in habitat and lifestyle was not cardinal. Forest and steppe with wild animals approached the cities. It was worth driving a couple of tens of versts or miles from the city outpost, and a person found himself face to face with a wild nature full of dangers. Which required virtually the same skills, physical strength and even mentality that were inherent in the primitive hunter and gatherer.had more free time. But in general, we repeat, the difference in habitat and lifestyle was not dramatic. Forest and steppe with wild animals approached the cities. It was necessary to drive a couple of tens of miles or miles from the city outpost, and a person found himself face to face with the wild nature, full of dangers. Which required virtually the same skills, physical strength and even mentality that were inherent in the primitive hunter and gatherer.had more free time. But in general, we repeat, the difference in habitat and lifestyle was not dramatic. Forest and steppe with wild animals approached the cities. It was necessary to drive a couple of tens of miles or miles from the city outpost, and a person found himself face to face with the wild nature, full of dangers. Which required virtually the same skills, physical strength and even mentality that were inherent in the primitive hunter and gatherer.which were inherent in the primitive hunter and gatherer.which were inherent in the primitive hunter and gatherer.
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WHAT IS TODAY?
In Russia, where the absolute majority lived in the countryside a hundred years ago, 74% of citizens live in cities. In Europe, USA, Japan this percentage is even higher. At the same time, about a third of the population is residents of megalopolises and the largest (from 500 thousand to 1 million) cities. A modern large metropolis is so different from any city or village of the past that it is time to talk not about a different environment, but about a different reality. Judge for yourself. Residents of megalopolises breathe two types of air: saturated with car exhaust gases and industrial waste outside and artificially purified and cooled indoors. They drink water that has passed through an innumerable number of artificial filters. They use an incredible amount of chemicals to keep their homes, clothes and themselves clean. They eat food stuffed with all kinds of additives, preservatives,amplifiers, sugar, antibiotics and so on and so forth. They rarely walk more than 1 km. They rarely do difficult work with their hands and generally work physically. They communicate with each other mostly not directly, but with the help of technical means (telephone, social networks). And most importantly, they receive an incredible amount of information that flows into their brain in a continuous stream using television, radio and the Internet. At the same time, the information is empty, for the most part not necessary either for survival, or even for a more comfortable and safe life. And most importantly, they receive an incredible amount of information that flows into their brain in a continuous stream using television, radio and the Internet. At the same time, the information is empty, for the most part not necessary either for survival, or even for a more comfortable and safe life. And most importantly, they receive an incredible amount of information that flows into their brain in a continuous stream using television, radio and the Internet. At the same time, the information is empty, for the most part not necessary either for survival, or even for a more comfortable and safe life.
OBVIOUS DIFFERENCE
Now let's compare how the lifestyle and environment described above have changed the modern person. So, homo sapiens. Average life expectancy is 25-30 years. Modern man is 70-80 years old. Homo sapiens has 5-8 children. In a modern person - 1-2 (extremely rarely more). The structure of the skeleton and muscles, the composition and structure of bones. According to the latest data, only Olympic skiers can compare with these indications with the Homo sapiens that lived on Earth 10 thousand years ago. Teeth. Undoubtedly, Homo sapiens had 32 of them. And our contemporary? According to some reports, at least half of the inhabitants of megacities no longer have molars. Or only two out of four cut through. Thus, the number of teeth becomes 28-30. Finally, the most important thing is the brain. It has long been no secret that the brain volume of a modern person is noticeably smaller,than our ancestors had it 25-12 thousand years ago. 1350 cm³ versus 1500 cm³. Moreover, the brain continues to shrink, with no end in sight. Why is that? Some scholars are inclined to believe that the ancient hunter-gatherer and even the following farmer and nomad were smarter than you and me. For the reason that they were universal masters. Each of them knew how to catch an animal and fish, get fire, cook food, build a dwelling, make tools and weapons, survive in any weather conditions, find medicinal herbs, find a way in unfamiliar terrain. And many many others. What of all this can a 21st century city dweller do? The answer is obvious: almost nothing. Yes, he doesn't need to be able - life is different. So, let the brain be smaller, there is nothing to waste energy.the brain continues to shrink, and there is no end in sight. Why is that? Some scholars are inclined to believe that the ancient hunter-gatherer and even the following farmer and nomad were smarter than you and me. For the reason that they were universal masters. Each of them knew how to catch an animal and fish, get fire, cook food, build a dwelling, make tools and weapons, survive in any weather conditions, find medicinal herbs, find a way in unfamiliar terrain. And many many others. What of all this can a 21st century city dweller do? The answer is obvious: almost nothing. Yes, he doesn't need to be able - life is different. So, let the brain be smaller, there is nothing to waste energy.the brain continues to shrink, and there is no end in sight. Why is that? Some scholars are inclined to believe that the ancient hunter-gatherer and even the following farmer and nomad were smarter than you and me. For the reason that they were universal masters. Each of them knew how to catch an animal and fish, get fire, cook food, build a dwelling, make tools and weapons, survive in any weather conditions, find medicinal herbs, find a way in unfamiliar terrain. And many many others. What of all this can a 21st century city dweller do? The answer is obvious: almost nothing. And he doesn't need to be able - life is different. So, let the brain be smaller, there is nothing to waste energy.that the ancient hunter-gatherer and even the following farmer and nomad were smarter than you and me. For the reason that they were universal masters. Each of them knew how to catch an animal and fish, get fire, cook food, build a dwelling, make tools and weapons, survive in any weather conditions, find medicinal herbs, find a way in unfamiliar terrain. And many many others. What of all this can a 21st century city dweller do? The answer is obvious: almost nothing. And he doesn't need to be able - life is different. So, let the brain be smaller, there is nothing to waste energy.that the ancient hunter-gatherer and even the following farmer and nomad were smarter than you and me. For the reason that they were universal masters. Each of them knew how to catch an animal and fish, get fire, cook food, build a dwelling, make tools and weapons, survive in any weather conditions, find medicinal herbs, find a way in unfamiliar terrain. And many many others. What can a 21st century citizen do of all this? The answer is obvious: almost nothing. And he doesn't need to be able - life is different. So, let the brain be smaller, there is nothing to waste energy.find your way in an unfamiliar area. And many many others. What can a 21st century citizen do of all this? The answer is obvious: almost nothing. And he doesn't need to be able - life is different. So, let the brain be smaller, there is nothing to waste energy.find your way in an unfamiliar area. And many many others. What of all this can a 21st century city dweller do? The answer is obvious: almost nothing. And he doesn't need to be able - life is different. So, let the brain be smaller, there is nothing to waste energy.
CONCLUSIONS AND TYPES (FOR THE FUTURE)
So, apparently, a new species of man has indeed appeared on Earth. They even came up with a name for him - homo urbanus (homo urbanus or "city man"). While unofficial, but everything is ahead. At the same time, Homo sapiens did not disappear anywhere. He still lives in nature - in tribes and nationalities, in villages, villages and nomad camps, doing the same thing from generation to generation. But every year the habitats of this person are shrinking, and in his place comes the “city man”. And there is nothing strange or scary here. In the same way, 25 thousand years ago, Homo sapiens ousted another species of man, the Neanderthal, to the outskirts of life, and then he completely disappeared from the face of the earth. So everything goes on as usual. And if someone is sad that we will never be the samethen experience shows that even the most inveterate homo urbanus (especially at a young age) should be deprived of its familiar environment and placed in appropriate natural conditions for a sufficiently long time, and it again becomes such a homo sapiens that it is very expensive to look at it. But why is it necessary? Our world will never be the same. And the “city man” approaches the new conditions in the best possible way.
Akim Bukhtatov