For good reason, the control of fire is often cited as one most significant milestones of human development. Not only did it provide warmth and protection from predators, but it also impacted the diet, behavior, and social organization of our ancestors.
One of the most significant ways fire influenced early humans was by allowing them to cook food. Cooking made food easier to digest and increased the amount of energy humans received. For example, cooked potatoes contain more calories than raw ones. Cooking meat breaks down tough tissues which makes it easier to digest. This allowed humans to consume a wider variety of foods, which in turn led to an increase in brain size (Aiello and Wheeler, 1995).
Fire fostered social organization in early humans. For example, using fire for cooking and warmth brought early humans together around the fire. This promoted social interaction and cooperation. During the Ice Age conditions were harsh and resources were scarce, so this would have been very important. The control of fire was a valuable skill passed down within groups. This created social hierarchies (Keeley, 1996).
Fire also impacted the environment. Early humans used fire to clear land for hunting and farming. This created many new ecosystems. This forced animals to expand into new areas and adapt to different environments (Pyne, 1982).
Overall, fire has played a major role in the way humans have evolved. It allowed us to cook food which led to us being able to get more energy from what we eat. It forced us to collaborate. It even altered the environment around us.
Aiello, L. C., & Wheeler, P. (1995). The expensive-tissue hypothesis: the brain and the digestive system in human and primate evolution. Current anthropology, 36(2), 199-221.
Keeley, L. H. (1996). Fire and the development of human societies. Journal of world prehistory, 10(4), 467-494.
Pyne, S. J. (1982). Fire in America: a cultural history of wildland and rural fire. Princeton University Press.
Evolutionary Anthropology 