You should understand the ramifications brought on by the demise of the dinosaur leading to the rise of the primates.
You should be familiar with geological and climatic change that gave lead to the adaptive radiations of the 'primate-like' mammals to arboreal life, and in turn, gave rise to "true" primates.
You should know that early primate evolution was not a simple "tree" but is best represented by "bushes" representing multiple radiations leading to some extinctions, some evolving into modern forms, and others into "next" stages.
You should know that the evolution of the Miocene anthropoids lead to two distinct branches, one leading to modern Old World monkeys, the other leading to modern hominoids (apes and monkeys).
You should understand the long-term effects of Miocene climatic and environmental change and how it lead to extensive primate diversity.
You should be familiar with the recent fossil record and the evolutionary significance of Proconsul. You should also know about the early African ape Morotopithecus and the Indian genus Sivapithecus and how these forms fit into the scheme of Miocene hominoid evolution.
You should know that molecular dating is a means by which fossil evidence can be cross-checked using genetic evidence from living hominids to help interpret Miocene evolution.
