We explain what the evolution of the human being was and what were its stages. In addition, its general characteristics and different species.
What was the evolution of man?
The evolution of man, also known as the “hominization process”, was the process of change and adaptation of the human species.
It is a complex process that lasted more than four million years. It covers the appearance and extinction of various species of the genus Homoof which the current human species is the only survivor.
From a scientific point of view, human evolution responds to the same laws and parameters as the evolution of the rest of living species. Current studies come from the “Theory of evolution “ Charles Darwin postulated in his book The origin of speciespublished in the nineteenth century.
See also: It was Cenozoica
Scientific evidence of the evolution of man
Anthropology is the main scientific discipline that deals with the study of the origin of man. Specifically, The branches of archeology, cultural anthropology and physical anthropology They complement each other with studies from other disciplines, such as biology, paleontology, genetics and physiology.
Interdisciplinary studies have allowed investigating and analyzing the fossil remains found by archaeologists and thus generating an evolutionary scheme of the human species. In recent decades, Scientific dating techniques have improved significantlywhich allowed to determine in greater detail the temporary location of the different fossil and material remains belonging to the different evolutionary phases of the Homo genus.
However, specialists still discuss many issues and The proposal of the evolutionary scheme is still in development. There are divergences regarding how to categorize some fossil remains or how to interpret the origin of certain cultural features. For this reason, it is possible to find different periodizations of the evolutionary scheme of the human species.
Stages of the evolution of man
In relation to the findings of fossil and material remains, specialists have made a scheme of the evolution of man, which Understand the different stages:
First ancestors: Australopithecus Afarensis
The fossil remains of the oldest hominid in the line of ancestry of the human species correspond to the so -called Australopithecus Afarensis. Thanks to the finding of fossils of 35 different individuals in Tanzania and a full 40% skeleton in Ethiopia (which Lucy called) the specialists They estimate that the Australopithecus lived between 4 and 2 million years ago. These hominids walked upright, which gave them a series of advantages such as the release of the hands during the transfer and a frontal vision.
Origin of the human race: Homo habilis
The findings of fossil remains in Olduvai (Tanzania) and Turkana (Kenyia) allowed to identify a different species, a descendant of the Australopithecus Afarensis. Fossils are 2.5 million years old and have a higher cranial volume. They found themselves next to lithic (stone) materials in the form of cutting tools.
Territorial expansion: Homo erectus
Another kind of hominids, called Homo erectus, They descended from Homo habilis. From the remains found in Africa, Europe and Asia, the specialists discuss whether this hominid lineage that leads to the current human being was developed in Africa and then migrated to other continents. The remains allow to date this evolutionary phase between 1.5 million years and 500,000 years ago. The communities of Homo erectus They made more complex tools and developed socially acquired subsistence guidelines, based on cooperation, labor division and the practice of sharing food. In addition, the remains indicate that they dominated the use of fire and hunted large animals.
The process of sapientization: of the Homo sapiens to the current human being
In different parts of the world, the Homo erectus It crossed an evolutionary process in which culture prevailed as a source of adaptive innovations. Gradually there was a transition from Homo erectus to the first Homo sapiens (called “archaic”), and from this to a subspecies known as Homo sapiens sapiensthe current human being.
There are fossil remains that allow categorizing different species of Homo sapiens archaic. The dates are located between 500,000 and 200,000 years ago. Fossils show a peculiar improvement in their cranial and vocal abilities. The material remains allow to identify an analogous cultural development, with increasingly numerous communities. Among the Homo sapiens Archaic many subspecies were categorized. Of them evolved the Homo Neanderthalensiswhich inhabited areas of colder climate and the Homo sapiens sapiens That, for 30,000 years, it was the only survivor among hominids and the one that belongs to the current human being.
Human brain development
One of the most prominent features of the human evolutionary process has to do with the development of the brain and their learning abilities:
- Australopithecus. Presents an average of 450 cm3 of cranial capacity, little more than a chimpanzee.
- Homo habilis. Much more developed, around 650 cm3 brain
- Homo erectus. Initially it showed about 850 cm3but in his last individuals he could have reached 1100 cm3.
- Homo Neanderthalensis. Reached just over 1150 cm3 of cranial capacity.
- Homo sapiens. It has an average capacity of 1550 cm3 brain
Opposable thumbs
One of the particular features of human evolution is the presence and usefulness of opposable thumbs. We share this characteristic with the upper primates and it was only useful once the bípeda posture was developed and the upper extremities were released.
Given that Our thumbs can touch the tip of the rest of the fingers They allow us to use the precise, exact use of tools handled with our hands.
Articulated language
One of the biggest features that distinguish Homo sapiens of its predecessors is the emergence of an articulated language. Allows us among other things Formulate and share complex thoughtsthat refer to objects that are not present, but that we can exchange for signs.
Standing
Unlike the straight column of the apes, The column of humans and their predecessors presents curvatures. These curves are designed for a bipedal life, standing flat, because they allow them to sustain the whole weight of the body. Our column works like a spring, with round vertebrae that support the weight of the head and torso.
Evolutionary chronology
Among the main species of hominid evolution we can find:
- Australopithecus Afarensis. 4-2 million years ago.
- Homo habilis. 2,6-1.5 million years ago.
- Homo erectus. 1.5 million and 500,000 years ago.
- Homo Sapiens Archaic. 500,000 – 200,000 years ago.
- Homo Neardenthalensis. 500,000 – 30,000 years ago.
- Homo sapiens sapiens. 200,000 years ago and, for 35,000 years it is the only human species.
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References
- López Serrano, A. (1996). Hominization and material culture process. The contribution of historical anthropology.
- Harris, M. (1981). Introduction to General Anthropology. Alliance.
- Leakey, R., & Lewin, R. (1994). Our origins. RBA Editors.
- “Human Evolution” in Wikipedia
- “Evolution of man” in Profe in History
- “Evolution of man” in cultural history
- “Evolution of man – concepts of theory” in everything about science
- “Evolution of the human being” in Bioencyclopedia
- “Human Evolution” in Britannica Encyclopeedia
- “Introduction to Human Evolution” in Humanorigins.Si.edu/ of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
