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Evolution — Part 3: Origin and evolution of humans

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Lesson

Human evolution

Part 3 — from ape-like ancestors to modern humans, traced through fossils.

In this lesson you will

Outline the main stages of human evolution with approximate times
Compare the brain capacity and features of Homo habilis, Homo erectus and Neanderthal man
Describe the origin and spread of Homo sapiens and the development of culture

Concept

A timeline of human evolution

Approximate times, from the textbook account:

Table of approximate times of stages of human evolution
Time ago	Form
About 15 million years	Dryopithecus (more ape-like) and Ramapithecus (more man-like)
About 2 million years	Australopithecines in East African grasslands
About 2 million years	Homo habilis
About 1.5 million years	Homo erectus (fossil found in Java, 1891)
About 1 lakh to 40 000 years	Neanderthal man, in east and central Asia
About 75 000 to 10 000 years	Modern Homo sapiens spread during the ice age
About 18 000 years	Prehistoric cave art
About 10 000 years	Agriculture and settlements begin

Concept

Early hominins

The first forms were still very ape-like.

Table of features of early hominin forms
Form	Features
Dryopithecus	More ape-like
Ramapithecus	More man-like
Australopithecines	Probably hunted with stone weapons; ate mainly fruit
Homo habilis (“handy man”)	Brain 650–800 cc; probably did not eat meat