Article: “Smoke, Fire and Human Evolution”
Before Reading: How do you think life changed for early humans after they discovered how to build fires? Try to list at least three ways.
Questions for Comprehension and Analysis
1. How did fire give an evolutionary advantage to early humans? How did it make life easier?
2. Two new studies have proposed theories on how negative consequences of fire might have shaped human evolution and development. How might a genetic mutation have given modern humans an evolutionary edge over Neanderthals, according to one study?
3. How might fire have created new dangers for humans, according to another study?
4. What are some negative cultural consequences that came with fire — and continue to leave an imprint on human society?
What Do You Think?
Learning how to harness the power of fire was a major development in human history. What do you think are the most important developments in all of human history? Make a top five or top 10 list. Would building fires make your list?