Hominid Development
Homo Sapiens
Africa
Homo Sapiens
Source:McDougal Littell World History: Patterns of Interaction: Student Edition (C) 2005
Hominid Development
Australopithecines
In 1974, fossils of one of the oldest known human ancestors, an Australopithecus afarensis specimen nicknamed “Lucy,” were discovered in Ethiopia.
Lucy and the hominids who left their footprints in East Africa were species of australopithecines. Walking upright helped them travel distances more easily. They were also able to spot threatening animals and carry food and children.These early hominids had already developed the opposable thumb. This means that the tip of the thumb can cross the palm of the hand. The opposable thumb was crucial for tasks such as picking up small objects and making tools. (To see its importance, try picking up a coin with just the index and middle fingers. Imagine all of the other things that cannot be done without the opposable thumb.)
Source:Natural History Museum of London
Homo Habilis (“man of skill”)
Before the australopithecines eventually vanished, new hominids appeared in East Africa around 2.5 million years ago. It is believed that Homo habilis created tools out of lava rock and used them to cut meat and crack open bones. Tools made the task of survival easierDental microwear studies suggest that the diet of H. habilis was flexible and versatile and that they were capable of eating a broad range of foods, including some tougher foods like leaves, woody plants, and some animal tissues.H. habilis may have hunted small prey, such as antelope, but definitely was a scavenger.
Source:McDougal Littell World History: Patterns of Interaction: Student Edition (C) 2005
Homo Erectus (“upright man”)
The extinct ancient human Homo erectus is a species of firsts. It was the first of our relatives to have human-like body proportions, with shorter arms and longer legs relative to its torso. It was also the first known hominin to migrate out of Africa, and possibly the first to cook food. Fossils and stone tools show that bands of Homo erectus hunters settled in India, China, Southeast Asia, and Europe. These hominids gradually became skillful hunters and invented more sophisticated tools for digging, scraping, and cutting. H. erectus may have been the earliest human relative to have controlled fire.
Source:Natural History Museum of London
Neanderthals
We know from injuries found on their prey - such as mammoths, bison and reindeer - that Neanderthals were proficient hunters, intelligent and able to communicate.
Evidence suggests that Neanderthals tried to explain and
control their world. They developed religious beliefs and
performed rituals such as funerals which means they probably believed in a world beyond the grave.
Neanderthals lived alongside early modern humans for at least part of their existence. We now know that some encounters were very intimate - some of us have inherited around 2% Neanderthal DNA.
Source:Natural History Museum of London
Homo Sapiens (“wise man”)
Modern humans evolved a unique combination of physical and behavioral characteristics, many of which other early human species also possessed, though not to the same degree. The complex brains of modern humans enabled them to interact with each other and with their surroundings in new and different ways. As the environment became more unpredictable, bigger brains helped our ancestors survive. They made specialized tools, and use tools to make other tools, as described above; they ate a variety of animal and plant foods; they had control over fire; they lived in shelters; they built broad social networks, sometimes including people they have never even met; they exchanged resources over wide areas; and they created art, music, personal adornment, rituals, and a complex symbolic world. Modern humans have spread to every continent and vastly expanded their numbers. They have altered the world in ways that benefit them greatly. But this transformation has unintended consequences for other species as well as for ourselves, creating new survival challenges.
Source:Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Source:McDougal Littell World History: Patterns of Interaction: Student Edition (C) 2005
Hominid Development
Diana Vitis
Created on August 8, 2023
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Practical Presentation
View
Smart Presentation
View
Essential Presentation
View
Akihabara Presentation
View
Pastel Color Presentation
View
Modern Presentation
View
Relaxing Presentation
Explore all templates
Transcript
Hominid Development
Homo Sapiens
Africa
Homo Sapiens
Source:McDougal Littell World History: Patterns of Interaction: Student Edition (C) 2005
Hominid Development
Australopithecines
In 1974, fossils of one of the oldest known human ancestors, an Australopithecus afarensis specimen nicknamed “Lucy,” were discovered in Ethiopia. Lucy and the hominids who left their footprints in East Africa were species of australopithecines. Walking upright helped them travel distances more easily. They were also able to spot threatening animals and carry food and children.These early hominids had already developed the opposable thumb. This means that the tip of the thumb can cross the palm of the hand. The opposable thumb was crucial for tasks such as picking up small objects and making tools. (To see its importance, try picking up a coin with just the index and middle fingers. Imagine all of the other things that cannot be done without the opposable thumb.)
Source:Natural History Museum of London
Homo Habilis (“man of skill”)
Before the australopithecines eventually vanished, new hominids appeared in East Africa around 2.5 million years ago. It is believed that Homo habilis created tools out of lava rock and used them to cut meat and crack open bones. Tools made the task of survival easierDental microwear studies suggest that the diet of H. habilis was flexible and versatile and that they were capable of eating a broad range of foods, including some tougher foods like leaves, woody plants, and some animal tissues.H. habilis may have hunted small prey, such as antelope, but definitely was a scavenger.
Source:McDougal Littell World History: Patterns of Interaction: Student Edition (C) 2005
Homo Erectus (“upright man”)
The extinct ancient human Homo erectus is a species of firsts. It was the first of our relatives to have human-like body proportions, with shorter arms and longer legs relative to its torso. It was also the first known hominin to migrate out of Africa, and possibly the first to cook food. Fossils and stone tools show that bands of Homo erectus hunters settled in India, China, Southeast Asia, and Europe. These hominids gradually became skillful hunters and invented more sophisticated tools for digging, scraping, and cutting. H. erectus may have been the earliest human relative to have controlled fire.
Source:Natural History Museum of London
Neanderthals
We know from injuries found on their prey - such as mammoths, bison and reindeer - that Neanderthals were proficient hunters, intelligent and able to communicate. Evidence suggests that Neanderthals tried to explain and control their world. They developed religious beliefs and performed rituals such as funerals which means they probably believed in a world beyond the grave. Neanderthals lived alongside early modern humans for at least part of their existence. We now know that some encounters were very intimate - some of us have inherited around 2% Neanderthal DNA.
Source:Natural History Museum of London
Homo Sapiens (“wise man”)
Modern humans evolved a unique combination of physical and behavioral characteristics, many of which other early human species also possessed, though not to the same degree. The complex brains of modern humans enabled them to interact with each other and with their surroundings in new and different ways. As the environment became more unpredictable, bigger brains helped our ancestors survive. They made specialized tools, and use tools to make other tools, as described above; they ate a variety of animal and plant foods; they had control over fire; they lived in shelters; they built broad social networks, sometimes including people they have never even met; they exchanged resources over wide areas; and they created art, music, personal adornment, rituals, and a complex symbolic world. Modern humans have spread to every continent and vastly expanded their numbers. They have altered the world in ways that benefit them greatly. But this transformation has unintended consequences for other species as well as for ourselves, creating new survival challenges.
Source:Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Source:McDougal Littell World History: Patterns of Interaction: Student Edition (C) 2005