2. Human evolutionHuman evolution
Human evolutionHuman evolution, is the origin and, is the origin and
evolution ofevolution of Homo sapiensHomo sapiens as a distinctas a distinct
species from other hominids, great apesspecies from other hominids, great apes
and placental mammals. The study ofand placental mammals. The study of
human evolution encompasses manyhuman evolution encompasses many
scientific disciplines, including physicalscientific disciplines, including physical
anthropology, primatology, archaeology,anthropology, primatology, archaeology,
linguistics and genetics.linguistics and genetics.
3. From primate to hominidFrom primate to hominid
The main characteristics of the hominids are:The main characteristics of the hominids are:
Always moving biped upright. This position determines the situationAlways moving biped upright. This position determines the situation
of the foramen magnum at the base of the skull. On each side andof the foramen magnum at the base of the skull. On each side and
pointing down, are the occipital condyles. The spine is sooo morepointing down, are the occipital condyles. The spine is sooo more
circular than in other antropooides, po the best weight-bearingcircular than in other antropooides, po the best weight-bearing
vertical. The spine has three bends, the pelvis widens and shortens,vertical. The spine has three bends, the pelvis widens and shortens,
there is a gradual lengthening of the leg bones and the thumb of thethere is a gradual lengthening of the leg bones and the thumb of the
lower extremitieslower extremities
Your palate is U-shaped with rounded dental arch and small teethYour palate is U-shaped with rounded dental arch and small teeth
His skull houses a large brain. This increase brain is in relation to aHis skull houses a large brain. This increase brain is in relation to a
diet of high energy content, since the brain is an organ that muchdiet of high energy content, since the brain is an organ that much
energyenergy
4. ArdipithecusArdipithecus
ArdipithecusArdipithecus is a very early homininis a very early hominin
genus. Two species are described in thegenus. Two species are described in the
literature:literature: A. ramidusA. ramidus, which lived about, which lived about
4.4 million years ago during the early4.4 million years ago during the early
Pliocene, andPliocene, and A. kadabbaA. kadabba, dated to, dated to
approximately 5.6 million years ago (lateapproximately 5.6 million years ago (late
Miocene).Miocene).
5. AustralopithecusAustralopithecus
is a genus of hominids that are now extinct.is a genus of hominids that are now extinct.
From the evidence gathered by palaeontologistsFrom the evidence gathered by palaeontologists
and archaeologists, it appears that theand archaeologists, it appears that the
AustralopithecusAustralopithecus genus evolved in eastern Africagenus evolved in eastern Africa
around 4 million years ago before spreadingaround 4 million years ago before spreading
throughout the continent and eventuallythroughout the continent and eventually
becoming extinct 2 million years ago. During thisbecoming extinct 2 million years ago. During this
time period various different forms oftime period various different forms of
australopiths existed, includingaustralopiths existed, including AustralopithecusAustralopithecus
anamensisanamensis,, A. afarensisA. afarensis,, A. sedibaA. sediba, and, and A.A.
africanusafricanus..
7. Australopithecus afarensisAustralopithecus afarensis
Australopithecus afarensisAustralopithecus afarensis is an extinct hominidis an extinct hominid
which lived between 3.7 and 2.9 million years ago.which lived between 3.7 and 2.9 million years ago.
A. afarensisA. afarensis was slenderly built, like the youngerwas slenderly built, like the younger
Australopithecus africanusAustralopithecus africanus. It is thought that. It is thought that A. afarensisA. afarensis
was ancestral to both the genuswas ancestral to both the genus AustralopithecusAustralopithecus andand
the genusthe genus HomoHomo, which includes the modern human, which includes the modern human
species,species, Homo sapiensHomo sapiens. The most famous fossil is the. The most famous fossil is the
partial skeleton named Lucy (3.2 million years old) bypartial skeleton named Lucy (3.2 million years old) by
Donald Johanson and colleagues, after they played theDonald Johanson and colleagues, after they played the
Beatles songBeatles song Lucy in the Sky with DiamondsLucy in the Sky with Diamonds over andover and
over in celebration of their find.over in celebration of their find.
9. ParanthropusParanthropus
TheThe robust australopithecinesrobust australopithecines ,,
members of the extinct hominin genusmembers of the extinct hominin genus
ParanthropusParanthropus (Greek para "beside",(Greek para "beside",
Greek anthropos "human"), were bipedalGreek anthropos "human"), were bipedal
hominids that probably descended fromhominids that probably descended from
the gracile australopithecine hominidsthe gracile australopithecine hominids
((AustralopithecusAustralopithecus))
11. HOMO HABILISHOMO HABILIS
Homo habilisHomo habilis lived from about 2.4 to 1.4 Ma.lived from about 2.4 to 1.4 Ma. HomoHomo
habilishabilis, the first species of the genus, the first species of the genus HomoHomo, evolved in, evolved in
South and East Africa in the late Pliocene or earlySouth and East Africa in the late Pliocene or early
Pleistocene, 2.5–2 Ma, when it diverged from thePleistocene, 2.5–2 Ma, when it diverged from the
Australopithecines.Australopithecines. Homo habilisHomo habilis had smaller molars andhad smaller molars and
larger brains than the Australopithecines, and made toolslarger brains than the Australopithecines, and made tools
from stone and perhaps animal bones. One of the firstfrom stone and perhaps animal bones. One of the first
known hominids, it was nicknamed 'handy man' by itsknown hominids, it was nicknamed 'handy man' by its
discoverer, Louis Leakey due to its association withdiscoverer, Louis Leakey due to its association with
stone tools. Some scientists have proposed moving thisstone tools. Some scientists have proposed moving this
species out ofspecies out of HomoHomo and intoand into AustralopithecusAustralopithecus due todue to
the morphology of its skeleton being more adapted tothe morphology of its skeleton being more adapted to
living on trees rather than to moving on two legs likeliving on trees rather than to moving on two legs like
Homo sapiensHomo sapiens..
13. Homo ergasterHomo ergaster
Homo ergasterHomo ergaster is an extinct chronospecies ofis an extinct chronospecies of HomoHomo
that lived in eastern and southern Africa during the earlythat lived in eastern and southern Africa during the early
Pleistocene, about 1.7- 2.5 million years ago. There isPleistocene, about 1.7- 2.5 million years ago. There is
still disagreement on the subject of the classification,still disagreement on the subject of the classification,
ancestry, and progeny ofancestry, and progeny of H. ergasterH. ergaster, but it is now widely, but it is now widely
accepted to be the direct ancestor of later hominids suchaccepted to be the direct ancestor of later hominids such
asas Homo heidelbergensisHomo heidelbergensis,, Homo sapiensHomo sapiens, and, and HomoHomo
neanderthalensisneanderthalensis rather than Asianrather than Asian Homo erectusHomo erectus. It is. It is
one of the earliest members of the genusone of the earliest members of the genus HomoHomo,,
possibly descended from, or sharing a common ancestorpossibly descended from, or sharing a common ancestor
with,with, Homo habilisHomo habilis..
The binomial name published in 1975 by Groves andThe binomial name published in 1975 by Groves and
Mazák is derived from the Ancient GreekMazák is derived from the Ancient Greek ἐργαστήρἐργαστήρ
"workman", in reference to the comparatively advanced"workman", in reference to the comparatively advanced
lithic technology developed by the species, introducinglithic technology developed by the species, introducing
the Acheulean industry.the Acheulean industry.
15. Homo erectusHomo erectus
Homo erectusHomo erectus (from the Latin(from the Latin ērĭgĕreērĭgĕre, "to put up, set upright") is, "to put up, set upright") is
an extinct species of hominid that originated in Africa and spread asan extinct species of hominid that originated in Africa and spread as
far as China and Java from the end of the Pliocene epoch to thefar as China and Java from the end of the Pliocene epoch to the
later Pleistocene, about 1.8 to 1.3 million years ago. There is stilllater Pleistocene, about 1.8 to 1.3 million years ago. There is still
disagreement on the subject of the classification, ancestry, anddisagreement on the subject of the classification, ancestry, and
progeny ofprogeny of H. erectusH. erectus, with two major alternative hypotheses:, with two major alternative hypotheses:
erectuserectus may be another name formay be another name for Homo ergasterHomo ergaster, and therefore the, and therefore the
direct ancestor of later hominids such asdirect ancestor of later hominids such as Homo heidelbergensisHomo heidelbergensis,,
Homo neanderthalensisHomo neanderthalensis, and, and Homo sapiensHomo sapiens; or it may be an Asian; or it may be an Asian
species distinct from Africanspecies distinct from African ergasterergaster..
H. erectusH. erectus originally migrated from Africa during the Earlyoriginally migrated from Africa during the Early
Pleistocene, possibly as a result of the operation of the SaharanPleistocene, possibly as a result of the operation of the Saharan
pump, around 2.0 million years ago, and dispersed throughout muchpump, around 2.0 million years ago, and dispersed throughout much
of the Old World.of the Old World.
17. Homo antecessorHomo antecessor
Homo antecessorHomo antecessor is an extinct human species (oris an extinct human species (or
subspecies) dating from 1.2 million to 800,000 yearssubspecies) dating from 1.2 million to 800,000 years
ago, that was discovered by Eudald Carbonell, Juan Luisago, that was discovered by Eudald Carbonell, Juan Luis
Arsuaga and J. M. Bermúdez de Castro.Arsuaga and J. M. Bermúdez de Castro. H. antecessorH. antecessor
is one of the earliest known human varieties in Europe.is one of the earliest known human varieties in Europe.
Various archaeologists and anthropologists haveVarious archaeologists and anthropologists have
debated howdebated how H. antecessorH. antecessor related to otherrelated to other HomoHomo
species in Europe, with suggestions that it was anspecies in Europe, with suggestions that it was an
evolutionary link betweenevolutionary link between H. ergasterH. ergaster andand H.H.
heidelbergensisheidelbergensis, although Richard Klein believes that it, although Richard Klein believes that it
was instead a separate species that evolved fromwas instead a separate species that evolved from H.H.
ergaster.ergaster. Others believe thatOthers believe that H. antecessorH. antecessor is in fact theis in fact the
same species assame species as H. heidelbergensisH. heidelbergensis, who inhabited, who inhabited
Europe from 600,000 to 250,000 years ago in theEurope from 600,000 to 250,000 years ago in the
Pleistocene.Pleistocene.
19. NeanderthalNeanderthal
TheThe NeanderthalNeanderthal (short for(short for Neanderthal ManNeanderthal Man ,,
in modern orthographyin modern orthography NeandertalNeandertal) is an) is an
extinct member of theextinct member of the HomoHomo genus that isgenus that is
known from Pleistocene specimens found inknown from Pleistocene specimens found in
Europe and parts of western and central Asia.Europe and parts of western and central Asia.
Neanderthals are either classified as aNeanderthals are either classified as a
subspecies (or race) of modern humans (subspecies (or race) of modern humans (HomoHomo
sapiens neanderthalensissapiens neanderthalensis ) or as a separate) or as a separate
human species (human species (Homo neanderthalensisHomo neanderthalensis ).).
21. HumansHumans
HumansHumans, known taxonomically as, known taxonomically as Homo sapiensHomo sapiens, are, are
the only living species in thethe only living species in the HomoHomo genus of bipedalgenus of bipedal
primates in Hominidae, the great ape family.primates in Hominidae, the great ape family.
Anatomically modern humans originated in Africa aboutAnatomically modern humans originated in Africa about
200,000 years ago, reaching full behavioral modernity200,000 years ago, reaching full behavioral modernity
around 50,000 years ago.around 50,000 years ago.
Humans have a highly developed brain, capable ofHumans have a highly developed brain, capable of
abstract reasoning, language, introspection, and problemabstract reasoning, language, introspection, and problem
solving. This mental capability, combined with an erectsolving. This mental capability, combined with an erect
body carriage that frees the hands for manipulatingbody carriage that frees the hands for manipulating
objects, has allowed humans to make far greater use ofobjects, has allowed humans to make far greater use of
tools than any other living species on Earth. Othertools than any other living species on Earth. Other
higher-level thought processes of humans, such as self-higher-level thought processes of humans, such as self-
awareness, rationality and sapience, are considered toawareness, rationality and sapience, are considered to
be defining features of what constitutes a "person".be defining features of what constitutes a "person".
