Austrolopithicus began as bipedals with a small brain case and large physical features (strong jaw muscles, large thick-enamaled teeth, great muscle mass) which helped them to survive on the ground for a while while vegetation was lush. As the years past, the climate and surroundings changed into a more savannah-like environment, and Austrolopithicus began to "split" into two different forms of man, one retaining many of the larger, physical characteristics, and another with a larger brain case. Evolution selected for the larger brained species, but why? It seems that brain over brawn was a key to survival in the changing world, and you had to smart in order to survive. This new species, Homo, was probably better able to predict changes in seasons, as well as devise better means of obtaining plants and meat while not dying in the process. The species able to feed themselves and prevent injury/death increase their reproductive success, which is a possible reason why Austrolopithicus became extinct. John Murphy Anthropology Essay Two Cultures on this planet are infinitely diverse and quite different from each other as well. Many of the customs and rituals that are practiced in the United States are diverse in nature as well, but are similar in more ways to each other than to cultures in other regions of the world. It seems that a great deal of a culture's core stems from their surrounding environment, and the pressures that this puts on those trying to live there. A culture's physical and social characteristics are interrelated, and play an important role in the development of a society and the personalities of the people. Marriage, jobs, and politics are all areas of a culture that are influenced by a person's environment. In the U.S., monogamy is the "normal" structure of marriage, and is a logic choice considering the type of environment we live in. Independence training is emphasized to prepare people for obtaining the highest standard of living in the U.