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Our Brain "fired" When We Conquered Fire - Coggle Diagram
Our Brain "fired" When We Conquered Fire
Analysis of "Race to Cooks" article
Takes longer to digest food if not using fire to cook food
Less time to focus on other tasks (such as tasks that require brain work)
Chimps have to chew and digest for 5 hours (for raw food)
may have purposely burned their homes
may be a connection between the beginning of cooking, shortening of huma intestinal track, and gowth of human brain
cooked food gives more calores = feeding the brain --> growth of brain
intestines and brains both take lots of energy
hard to have both of big
so by shortening intetines, made way for more energy to be taken by the brain - making it bigger
when learned they could control fire (natural element) - gained control of a potentionally limitless force
could choose when and where to set fire
could use fire for a variety of tasks
could be used as a weapon against predators, such as lions
could help with staying warm in the winter - so they don't have to constantly move around
power of fire was not limited by its form, or structture, or the strength of huma body
Controlling fire gives a lot of power
A single match can burn down a forest?
How did controlling fire help humans?
Clearing physical areas (forests)
Helps with digesting food
Cooked meat = more calories
fed the
brain
Kills bacteria
digest better
Societal changes
Gathered together more
For safety, warmth, socializing...
Lead to sedentary lifestyle
Social roles and hierarchies are developed
Helped move to different enviornments - including colder climates
When did it happen?
300 000 - 800 000 years ago
even homo erectus (1 million y.a.)
Cognitive Revolution
arts, ceremonies, rituals, new tools
mutation in our brain's DNA
developed complex language
70 000 y.a.
imaginative thinking
thinking "ahead"
Result of Congitive Revolution
used more complex language
making more choices/communicating different decisons
social communication
"forward" thinking"
burying dead - maybe thinking of afterlife?
thinking of the afterlife reflects thinking of /remembering the past
and imagining the future (afterlife)