Week+4

//Around 50,000 years ago, elements such as language, the arts, and religion began to appear. Understanding cultural evolution is essential for understanding the diverse values, beliefs and motivations that characterise the modern world. Cultures have generally evolved slowly but some technological advances have led to major and rapid cultural change and continue to change the world as we know it.// **__Notes:__** **(** //Some starting [|__perspective__] s// **)** Culture is a defining feature of being human. Like human wellbeing, it is variously understood and defined. A useful definition of culture is given here: [|__http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture__]. For IHS the second and fifth definitions are close to our use of the term. It is argued that non-human animals have culture. They do if we view culture as transmitted information leading to behaviours such as one animal guiding another to a food source. Such behaviours can be regarded as arising from a mix of innate or instinctual behaviours and learned behaviours with the balance probably on the side of instinctual at least for most animals. Human cultures as we understand them are primarily learned in origin although our common genetic heritage may predispose us to certain common cultural elements found in all societies, such as religious or spiritual leanings. Human cultures are immensely rich, complex and diverse. Our ability and propensity to develop cultures has been critically important to our survival and prosperity. We began as modern humans, Homo sapiens, 200,000 years ago with a cultural base that had already distinguished our immediate non-human ancestors from all other animals. We were able to use fire, to cook, to make tools, to develop deep social bonds. We do not know how well we could communicate, think in abstract terms, identify with the past and future or have the capacity for conscious and self-conscious thought. It is generally presumed that these features developed slowly and then more rapidly around 50,000 years ago. Features such as art and ritual begin to appear from that time and even possibly music although we only have archaeological evidence to support this. In all probability one cultural advance supported another; all worked symbiotically to accelerate cultural development from that time. This development meant that we prospered as a species, population numbers increased locally and regionally as may have the size of social groupings. Around 10,000 years ago a new cultural advance occurred; agriculture. This was the real foundation of our global civilisation and is considered in the next topic. This week you should focus on major cultural developments that preceded agriculture, question their origins and consider their value to human prosperity.
 * Week 4: The emergence and evolution of culture**

**Resources:** //There are three resources to overview: delve deeper into sections that relate to the assignments or that simply interest you.// **1) What is culture?** Not an easy question; there are many answers; Dennis O'Neil, an anthropologist, provides a useful description for our purposes  [|__http://anthro.palomar.edu/culture/culture_1.htm__]   **2) A quick view of major cultural steps: Smithsonion** [|__http://humanorigins.si.edu/human-characteristics__]

**3) Wikipedia on culture**  [|__http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture__]

**Activities:** **Week 4 Assignment Due Sunday 2nd September 5pm** **Week 4 Forum Post Due Sunday 26th August** **Project Proposal Due Sunday 26th August. Submit as a forum post in the Project Forum** **Electa online tutorial programed for Tuedsay: please log in early to check your connection.** **A reminder to all students to complete the Acedemic Conduct Essentials Module (link below)** [|**__http://www.student.uwa.edu.au/learning/resources/ace__**]

**Activity 1:** Choose **two****(2)** cultural developments that preceded agriculture such as the domestication of fire, art, language, music or burial rites and discuss their supposed origin and time of appearance and their contribution to human prosperity. Write about 500 words on each development; you may need to start from the recommended resources but then extend your readings for more information. //Submit your answers as a single document word document; remember to start your answer with the actual question or supply suitable headings. Include in the document a copy of your forum thread.//

**Activity 2:** **a)** Post a thread to the week 4 forum based on one of the cultural developments you choose for your assignment and explain why it was particularly significant to our cultural progress and comment on its significance or lack of significance to our current level of wellbeing and lifestyles. **b)** Reply with comments to at least three other threads: choose those with least replies if possible.

**Activity 3:** Submit your project proposal in the Project Forum. See the study guide and project guide for guidelines and discuss with your tutor if necessary before finalising your proposal. **Activity 4:** Post an entry in your wiki learning journal. Make sure all your weekly notes, assignments and forum posts are copied into your wiki.