prehistoric development


The origin of humans: Hominidae


Australopitecus

related to true Hominids; several species in Africa from 8 - 5.6 million years BC. Extinct

Homo habilis

first true toolmaker; Africa from 2 million years BC. Extinct

Homo erectus

masters toolmaking, uses fire and thus expands living range into caves of temperate regions; Africa, Java, China and Europe from 1.6 million years BC. Extinct

Homo sapiens

in all continents from 400,000 - 200,000 BC. Only living species: Homo sapiens sapiens

subspecies: Neanderthal
Europe, Africa and Asia between 100,000 and 35,000 BC. Absorbed into Homo sapiens sapiens or extinct


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