ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the evolution of the lion alongside humans, the extinction of P leo’s ancestors and related species, and the development of patterns of human-lion coexistence and conflict. It presents a picture of how the contemporary relationship between lions and humans evolved and how early, regularly reinforced experiences may have shaped human attitudes. The chapter provides the Pleistocene period, into the Holocene epoch. The development of modern humans from hominid and then hominin predecessors somewhat paralleled lion evolution. Examination of the evolution of P leo, the modern lion, starts with early mammalian prototype carnivores, which took over the niche in the food chain occupied by the dinosaur carnivores, which disappeared with the mass extinction of dinosaurs 65 ma. Modern lions reached the steppes of Ukraine and Hungary, but were unable to penetrate the dense forests of Central Europe. Hominin entry into the carnivore guild through scavenging and hunting would have a profound effect on relations with predators.
