Monkey to Man: The Evolution of the March of Progress Image

The "march of progress" illustration, which shows a linear progression of ape-like creatures evolving into humans, has significantly impacted our understanding of evolution. This book explores the origins and history of this illustration, tracing its evolution from Victorian Britain to America in the Space Age, and how it reflected changing scientific and public perspectives on human evolution.

Format: Hardback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 14 May 2024
Publisher: Yale University Press

The "march of progress," a well-known representation of evolution that shows a progression of ape-like creatures evolving into upright humans, has significantly influenced our understanding of human evolution. However, this image contradicts modern scientific conceptions of evolution as a complex and branching process. This book is the first to explore the origins and history of this influential illustration. Spanning over a century, from Victorian Britain to America in the Space Age, Gowan Dawson traces the interconnected histories of the two most important versions of the image: the frontispiece to Thomas Henry Huxley's Evidence as to Mans Place in Nature (1863) and "The Road to Homo Sapiens," a fold-out illustration in the best-selling book Early Man (1965). Dawson delves into how the recurring appearances of this image reflected changing scientific and public perspectives on human evolution, as well as showcased innovative artistic approaches and technological advancements.

The "march of progress," a well-known representation of evolution that shows a progression of ape-like creatures evolving into upright humans, has significantly influenced our understanding of human evolution. However, this image contradicts modern scientific conceptions of evolution as a complex and branching process. This book is the first to explore the origins and history of this influential illustration. Spanning over a century, from Victorian Britain to America in the Space Age, Gowan Dawson traces the interconnected histories of the two most important versions of the image: the frontispiece to Thomas Henry Huxley's Evidence as to Mans Place in Nature (1863) and "The Road to Homo Sapiens," a fold-out illustration in the best-selling book Early Man (1965). Dawson delves into how the recurring appearances of this image reflected changing scientific and public perspectives on human evolution, as well as showcased innovative artistic approaches and technological advancements.

Weight: 742g
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300270624