Human development

Human development

The tribal history of humans separated from the apes approximately 6 to 7 million years ago. Geological changes in the eastern part of Africa forced part of the primates living there from the rainforests into the outskirts or into the savannahs. Only a few species probably coped with the difficult conditions and developed into human-like early forms.

Infront of people

One group of these pre-human beings were the Australopithecines ("monkey humans"). Three to four million years ago, this group split into two lines, Australopithecus robustus and Australopithecus africanus.

Fossil findings from Africa showed that these pre-human beings were upright and had human-like hands and bits. Her skull with the strongly fleeing forehead had a brain skull volume of approximately 400 cubic centimeters. They used natural objects such as stones, bones and wood. In small groups they moved through the savannahs and faced the competition of the meat and herbivores.

In 1974, a 3.8 million year old Australopithecus skeleton ("Lucy") was discovered in Ethiopia. The skeleton was reconstructed on the basis of fragments of the pelvis and the skull.

While Australopithecus robustus did not develop further, the form Australopithecus africanus represents the root of humans according to current knowledge.

The reason for the better adaptation of Australopithecus africanus was certainly the varied diet. In addition to vegetable protein, animal protein was taken up, which came from found animal carcasses, bird eggs and trapped small animals. Animal protein is u. a. one of the requirements for the growth of the brain.

Early man

About 2 million years ago, the first representatives of the early humans appeared in the African savannas. They were named by the scientists Homo habilis ("clever man").

These forms had a larger brain volume than Australopithecus africanus and used a variety of self-made stone tools. Their regular use had an impact on human evolution.

Groups that made good tools had significant benefits in food purchase.

As a result, their reproductive rate increased, they could their genes and thus z. B. pass on the tendency to increase the brain. About 1.7 million years ago, several human species lived in parallel.

Homo erectus ("upright human") evolved from Homo habilis. Today it is believed that there are at least three different forms of Homo erectus.

The brain volume rose to 940 cubic centimeters, her physique was already largely the same as ours. The Homo erectus forms made tools from flint tubers and built tent-like dwellings. With the production of lances and the use of fire, the groups of Homo erectus gained an advantage over the other human species. About 1.2 million years ago, there was only Homo erectus, the other human species had disappeared

About 200,000 years later, groups of Homo erectus began to leave the African continent for Asia and Europe. On the basis of fossil finds one can follow this way. The changed environmental conditions led to changed adjustments.

From a form of Homo erectus, which is called Homo ergaster ("craftsman"), developed in the populated continents various forms of Homo sapiens ("knowing man"). With a second wave of emigration from Africa, which began about 100,000 years ago, our ancestors reached the European continent some 40,000 years ago. There they encountered groups of Homo sapiens neanderthalensis ("Neanderthals"), with whom they were likely to compete for the resources available. Only a few thousand years after the appearance of our ancestors, the Neanderthal disappeared from Europe.