Histopedia

Human evolution is the study of how humans have changed and adapted over millions of years.

Stages of Human Evolution:

1. Emergence of Bipedalism (~6-8 million years ago)
2. Australopithecus (~4-2 million years ago)
3. Homo Habilis (~2.8-1.4 million years ago)
4. Homo Erectus (~1.8-70,000 years ago)
5. Homo Sapiens (~200,000 years ago to present)

Key Milestones:

1. Development of language (~100,000 years ago)
2. Control of fire (~400,000 years ago)
3. Tool use (~2.5 million years ago)
4. Agriculture (~10,000 years ago)
5. Complex societies (~5,000 years ago)

Theories and Evidence:

1. Charles Darwin’s Natural Selection (1859)
2. Fossil record (e.g., Lucy, Taung Child)
3. Comparative anatomy (e.g., homologous structures)
4. Molecular biology (e.g., DNA, genetics)
5. Archaeological findings (e.g., tools, artifacts)

Human Evolution Timeline:

6-8 million years ago: Human lineage diverges from chimpanzee lineage
4-2 million years ago: Australopithecus emerges
2.8-1.4 million years ago: Homo Habilis appears
1.8-70,000 years ago: Homo Erectus migrates out of Africa
200,000 years ago: Homo Sapiens emerges in Africa
50,000-10,000 years ago: Homo Sapiens migrates globally

Influential Figures:

1. Charles Darwin
2. Alfred Russel Wallace
3. Louis Leakey
4. Jane Goodall
5. Stephen Jay Gould

Current Research:

1. Ancient DNA analysis
2. Fossil discoveries (e.g., Homo luzonensis)
3. Human migration and population genetics
4. Cognitive and cultural evolution
5. Human evolution and disease susceptibility