Ape Man is the definitive account of how humans evolved from primates to become the dominant species on earth. From the extinction of the dinosaurs to the invention of fire, from the development of language to the link between furry ancestors and modern man, this vivid journey tells a towering story. Featuring the latest scientific evidence, Ape Man travels 7 million years back in time to uncover the world of man's oldest ancestor.

Part 3, All in the Mind

As the brain evolved, early man gained an incredible evolutionary advantage--the power of language. It brought humans closer together and led to a higher form of creativity. Cave painting, sculpture, and decorative tools sprung from man's hand. Today, the human mind still drives the species, but is that enough to guarantee survival on the evolutionary tree?

• Cro-Magnon
• abstract
• anatomically
• apparatus
• artifacts
• conceptualize
• conundrum
• demography
• embedded
• excavation
• fertility
• folklore
• genus
• legacy
• preceptors
• replicating

1. Human beings are different from any other species of living organisms. What is it that makes us so unique? What capabilities do we possess that other species do not?

2. Language is an essential characteristic of human beings. From the moment we are born, we begin to learn language. But how did human beings first acquire language?

3. Are we the only species capable of language? What constitutes language? Do animals, such as parrots, who can mimic human language, possess the skill of language?

4. Human beings are social animals who live in groups. How does the skill of language foster social relationships?

5. It is thought that once there was more than one type of hominid. Why did our species of hominid, the forerunner of modern humankind, survive while other hominid species did not?

6. Hominid fossils indicate that they may have suffered injuries similar to the injuries modern humans suffer. How do the traces of these injuries indicate that hominids engaged in social relationships?

7. Neanderthals are the first hominids that buried their dead. Why are burials indicative of a more highly evolved species?

8. Art and culture are hallmarks of human beings. How do art and culture enable human beings to share their ideas and culture?

1. Discuss how the practice of personal adornment is a message for social and cultural status, and membership of a group. What is the purpose of personal adornment in modern culture? What messages does it send? Why do you think human beings desire to adorn themselves?

2. In order to understand the importance of language in our lives, try communicating for a short while without using language. Dividing into small groups, have each member of the group try to tell a story or convey a message without using any form of speech.

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Air Dates

• August 05, 2004