2. The theory of evolution
In basic terms the theory of evolution is the belief or theory that all
life on earth and all life forms evolved (develop, gradually change
or mature) from one ancestral creature.
Human evolution is referred to as the evolutionary process leading
up to the modern day appearance of Homo sapiens or as we know
them, humans.
It’s the process of change by which people or human beings are
thought to have originated from apelike ancestors and to majority
of the work the theory of evolution is closely associated with an
image showing how physical similarities indicate that modern
human species are closely related or have a close relationship to
another group of primate species, the apes, an example of he
image ( top left corner )
3. Homo species
Homo –
Definition
noun
(taxonomy) A genus comprised of primates characterized
by bipedalism, skills in tool usage, and large cranial capacity
List of homo species
Homo habilis
Homo ergaster
Homo erectus
Homo neanderthalensis
Homo sapiens
4. Homo habilis
Earliest fossils placed in Homo gene.
Approximate age: 2.4 to 1.6 million years
Stone tools found giving the species its name, ‘ handy man’
5. Homo ergaster
First fully bipedal Homo species
Large brained
Existed between 1.9 and 1.5 million years ago
Shows decrease in sexual dimorphism compared to ancestors
Where previously assigned to H. Erectus
7. Homo erectus
Originated in Africa about 1.8 million years ago
First hominin to leave Africa
8. Homo neanderthalensis
Lived in Europe and West east from 200 000 to 28 000 years ago
Thick boned
Large brain
Buried their dead
Made hunting tools
9. Homo sapiens
Appeared in Africa by 195 000 years ago
All humans are descendents from African ancestors
Oldest fossil outside Africa about 115 000 years
In 2004, 18 000 year old fossil was found in Indonesia and a new
small hominin was named- Homo floresiesis
H sapiens is the first group to show evidence of symbolic and
sophisticated thought.
10. Homo floresiensis
In 2004, 18,000 year old fossils
were found in Indonesia, and a
new small hominin was named:
Homo floresiensis
11. Austrolopiths
Any of several extinct humanlike primates of the
genusAustralopithecus and closely related genera such
as Ardipithecusand Paranthropus.
List of Austrolopiths
Australopithicus africanus
Australopithicus afarensis
12. A.africanus
Meaning “Southern ape of Africa”
Walked upright ( bipedal)
Humanlike hands and teeth
Had a brain 1/3 of modern humans
An example : Mrs Ples
Lived more than 2 million years ago in the cradle of Humankind
13. A.afarensis
Discovered in Afar ( Ethiopia) in 1974, known as Lucy
Brain size of a chimp
Longer lower jaw
Arms are were longer than humans ( arboreal movement)
