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For many years, the origins of people on Earth have been a subject of fascination and mystery. Before humans arrived on the planet, as we all know, the dominant species was dinosaurs, and the ecology looked very different. After millions of years, we are now the dominant species in the world. However, the trip has not been brief or simple. The cognitive capacities of Homo sapiens, the modern species of humans, were not shared by our forebears. Let us examine how humans have changed since primates first appeared on Earth and were first recorded.
Scientists affiliated with the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History have reportedly carried out extensive research on the same, according to a Daily Mail report. It was estimated that the earliest primates, which bear some resemblance to modern humans, emerged approximately 55 million years ago. Hominidae originated from them 15 million years ago. They go by the names gibbons and big apes as well. Most people view them as our forefathers, and we are also given extensive information about them. The humans of today likewise resemble them in appearance.
Scientists estimate that gorillas descended from gibbons approximately 70 lakh years ago. They gave birth to chimpanzees, which in turn gave rise to various human lineages. There is evidence that the ancestors of modern humans, who lived approximately 55 million years ago, resembled apes such as gorillas and chimpanzees. Ardipithecus was their name. They had some traits with humans, but their brain was not larger than a chimpanzee's. From 29 to 39.40 lakh years ago, Australopithecus afarensis inhabited Africa.
When Paranthropus first emerged 27 lakh years ago, it lived in woodlands. Their jaws were enormous for chewing. They were mostly carnivorous. They continued to evolve. They invented hand axes 26 lakh years ago in order to hunt animals. Homo habilis is said to have originated in Africa some 23 lakh years ago. It is thought that Homo sapiens, as we know them today, emerged 19 lakh years ago.
About 800,000 years ago, as people continued to progress, they started using fire and building stoves. It caused the brain to develop quickly. About 400,000 years ago, Neanderthals initially appeared in Asia and Europe and started to spread over the world. Africa is where modern humans originated, and they traveled to Europe around 40,000 years ago. Thus, it makes sense to assume that early people in East Africa began using stones as tools about 17 lakh years ago.
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