Asthma History: Chapter 2: The Origins of Human Empathy and Illness

The first Homo sapiens, our direct ancestors, appeared around 200,000 to 300,000 years ago in Africa. Even before that, human-like species, or hominins, walked the Earth for millions of years. These early hominins, including species like Homo habilis and Homo erectus, paved the way for modern humans with their ability to adapt, invent tools, and form social groups.

While we can never know exactly what life was like for early humans, we do know they faced many challenges. These challenges—finding food, shelter, and avoiding predators—often required cooperation and care within their small communities. Empathy, in its earliest form, likely evolved from the need to support one another for survival. Sharing food, protecting the sick or injured, and caring for offspring were vital to their existence.

The Role of Disease in Early Human Life

It’s impossible to know precisely what diseases afflicted early humans, as there are no written records or medical descriptions from that time. However, it’s safe to assume that, much like today, infections and injuries were common causes of death. Viruses and bacteria existed long before humans, so early humans likely suffered from respiratory infections, colds, and other illnesses.

But what about asthma and other chronic diseases? While it's difficult to say if asthma, as we understand it today, existed in ancient times, respiratory symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath could have occurred, particularly in response to infections, smoke from fires, or environmental factors. Chronic diseases often affect older populations, and most early humans did not live long enough to develop them. However, it is possible that some children developed asthma-like symptoms.

Given that asthma tends to develop in childhood, it’s conceivable that children may have suffered from it in prehistoric times. With no effective way to diagnose or treat severe asthma attacks, these children might have died without anyone fully understanding what was happening. Their symptoms may have been dismissed as the result of an illness or bad air, with no one recognizing the chronic nature of the condition.

Early Humans and Empathy

While we can't be certain whether asthma existed, we do know that early humans, including Neanderthals, demonstrated care for their fellow beings. Archaeological evidence shows that Neanderthals, who lived from about 400,000 to 40,000 years ago, cared for their sick and injured. For instance, remains of Neanderthal skeletons show signs of long-term injuries, suggesting that others helped them survive for many years after their accidents—an early form of empathy in action.

It is also believed that Neanderthals and other early humans practiced burial rituals, providing food or tools to accompany their dead in the afterlife. These behaviors suggest that they had developed emotional bonds, cared for one another, and possibly had early forms of communication and tradition.

The Birth of Early Medicine

The act of caring for the sick—whether offering food, water, or shelter—can be considered the earliest form of medicine, though not in the sense we know today. These early people likely had no concept of disease as we understand it. However, they observed the effects of illness and injury, and they learned to respond to it with empathy, offering what little comfort they could.

While the term “healthcare” would be anachronistic, early human empathy laid the groundwork for the development of communal support systems. This would have been essential for survival, as caring for the injured or sick helped ensure the tribe’s strength and longevity.

The Evolution of Human Adaptation

About 1.8 million years ago, Homo erectus emerged. These early humans were remarkable for their ability to migrate and adapt to various environments. They were the first to use fire, around 400,000 years ago, which allowed them to cook food, stay warm, and protect themselves from predators. Fire also provided them with more leisure time, which may have contributed to social bonding, storytelling, and further cognitive development.

As they migrated out of Africa, Homo erectus and later species like Homo neanderthalensis adapted to new environments by inventing tools, developing hunting strategies, and learning to cope with colder climates. These adaptations were crucial as the climate fluctuated and food sources became scarce. Empathy and cooperation continued to play a central role in survival, especially during times of crisis.

The Neanderthals and Their Legacy

Neanderthals, though not direct ancestors of modern humans, were close relatives. They lived in small groups, mainly in caves, and relied on hunting and gathering. Archaeological evidence suggests that Neanderthals cared for their sick and disabled, providing food and shelter for those unable to hunt. For example, one burial site revealed the remains of a man who had lived for many years without the use of one arm, indicating that others must have helped him survive.

Around 45,000 years ago, the climate in Europe began to change rapidly, transforming the forests on which the Neanderthals depended into open plains. This sudden shift in their environment, combined with the arrival of modern humans, may have contributed to their extinction. Homo sapiens, with more advanced tools and social structures, were better able to adapt to the changing landscape.

Empathy and Early Medicine in Context

In a world where survival depended on cooperation, early humans and their ancestors had to care for one another. They shared food, provided warmth, and nursed the sick—basic acts of empathy that can be seen as the foundations of medicine. However, these early forms of care were not guided by medical knowledge but rather by necessity and emotional bonds.

While there is no evidence that diseases like asthma were prevalent, respiratory symptoms likely existed due to infections or environmental factors. What we do know is that early humans, including Neanderthals, demonstrated care for their fellow beings, offering what could be seen as the earliest forms of healthcare.

Today, we continue to build on the legacy of empathy and caregiving that has been part of human evolution for millions of years.

References:

1. Netzley, Patricia D, "World History Series: The Stone Age," 1998, San Diego, CA, Lucent Books
2. Roberts, J.M., "The illustrated History of the World: Prehistory and the first civilizations: volume I," 1999, New York, Oxford University Press
3. "Neanderthal: Their bodies were well equopped to cope with the ice age, so why did the Neanderthals die out when it ended," bbc.co.uk, Science and Nature, http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/neanderthal_prog_summary.shtml, accessed 4/4/13
4. Garrison, Fielding Hudson, "An Introduction to the history of medicine," 1921, 3rd edition, Philadelphia and London, W.B. Saunders and Company