We often have this question: why do we have to wear clothes now? Aren't there many animals in nature that are exposed? What is the purpose of wearing clothes? To cover shame, to keep warm, or to show status?
In fact, our ancestors had a difficult time exploring this issue. Let's turn back hundreds of thousands of years and embark on a thought-provoking journey together.
Have you ever wondered what our ancestors were like in ancient times? If you go back millions of years, we will find that primitive people are not the same as we are now. At that time, human beings were like other apes, with hair all over their bodies. Can you imagine that scene? A group of people with thick hair, running and hunting on the plains. Doesn't it feel a little funny and a little cute?
But nature is no joke, and the kind of fluff that grows all over the body is an extremely important survival equipment for ancient humans. Imagine if you lived naked in that harsh environment, it would be terrible. When it's cold and wet, you'll freeze, and when it's hot and dry, you'll get dizzy from the sun. The skin can also be easily scratched by various irritating things. Therefore, for the ancient ancestors, the fluffy hair is equivalent to a "multi-functional cloak" for warmth and cold, heat insulation and breathability, and self-defense.
At that time, the ancient ancestors were all herbivores, living a barbaric life that was not civilized at all. But over time, in order to obtain more food sources, they began to try to hunt other animals. Chasing prey is undoubtedly a strenuous task that requires long runs. But have you ever wondered if it would have been extremely difficult to run while hunting if the ancient ancestors were still wearing that "multi-purpose cloak" at that time?
Hair obscures the skin, reducing heat dissipation. Over time, I'm afraid I'll be half hot if I continue like this. Later, he evolved a brilliant idea: just get rid of all the hair on your body! This has helped a lot, not only has it been easier to hunt, but it has also greatly improved its running ability.
But then again, nakedness is really exposed, and that's not very sightly. You can't defend yourself in case of danger, so it's not a good idea. Don't worry, our ancestors were very shrewd and capable.
About 170,000 years ago, there was a sudden ice age around the world. Extremely cold temperatures swept across Africa, and ancient humans who had lived in warm regions for a long time could not stand such a big change in the environment. It's a bit reluctant to be naked, so it's time to wear something. So, they began to try to make some "shelters" for themselves out of animal fur.
At first, his clothes were simple and coarse, and he basically wore the fur of a wild beast over his body. But after all, it was a crucial step. Later, with the continuous evolution of technology, human beings became more and more adept at making clothes made of various animal and plant fibers, and styles also emerged in an endless stream. From the initial simple shelter and warmth, to different skin tones and patterns representing different statuses, and then to the current high development of fashion and aesthetics, it can be said that it is gradually getting better and innovating.
Wearing clothes is a crucial step in human evolution, not only helping humans to successfully adapt to the harsh changes in the environment, but also means that humans have acquired an invaluable ability to no longer passively adapt to the environment, but to actively change the environment. It can be said that this step is not far from modern civilized society.
Therefore, although the clothes are small, they contain the crystallization of the progressive wisdom of human beings for tens of thousands of years. From the simple grass clothes at the beginning, to the current designers competing for beauty and showing their magical powers, the act of dressing is not only to shelter the body from the cold, but also reflects the manifestation of human nature and the inheritance of civilization. And all of this stems from the difficult choice made by our ancestors in ancient times.
At this point, you've thought more deeply about why humans chose to wear clothes 170,000 years ago. In short, this is closely related to the drastic changes in the environment and climate at that time. In addition to that, I think the key lies in the unique intelligence of human beings. Instead of being forced to adapt to the harsh natural environment like animals, we can use our intelligence to actively change the environment in order to survive better. This change in thinking marks the real march of mankind towards modern civilization.
Finally, let us express our heartfelt respect for the ancient Homo sapiens! It is precisely because of their difficult choice that the modern social civilization has been continued, and it is precisely because of their courage to innovate that mankind can continue to make breakthroughs and develop and move towards a better tomorrow. If putting on clothes is only a small step on the long road of exploration, then this small step represents a key step towards human awakening and civilization progress, which is worth remembering forever.
Disclaimer: The information in this article comes from the Internet, which is not guaranteed to be completely correct and is for reference only.