Human evolution | History , stages, timelines

 

Since human evolution has taken place over millions of years,

1 Australopithecus: around 4 – 2 million years ago

The first humans were the earliest Australopithecus that began human evolutionary movement in Africa. Lucy is the name of one of these fossils that gives a glimpse into the occurrence of bipedalism.

2. There was homo habilis dated back between 2.4 – 1.4 Million years ago.

Tool making by homo habilis’ foremost ancestor was an important stage in the progression of the evolutionary chain. They had big and adaptable brains.

3. Homo erectus: from 140,000 to 1.9 million years ago

Homo erectus used increasingly advanced tools and demonstrated controlled use of fire to spread beyond Africa. An important phase in the dispersal of humans was their migration to different continents.

4. Prehistoric Humans: 500,000–200,000 years ago

Several human species coexisted during this time, exhibiting characteristics of both Homo erectus and Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens eventually replaced this diversity as the dominant species.

5. Among the Neanderthals: 400,000–40,000 years ago

An entirely different kind of human evolved in Europe and Asia called Neanderthals. They demonstrated a degree of sophistication by making tools, burying their dead, and using symbolic expressions.

6. The emergence of Homo sapiens: 300,000 years ago

The current day humans emerged from in our ancestors, known as homo sapiens, come from Africa. These advanced cognitive abilities were achieved through the evolution of complex language, which facilitated cooperation within a group.

7. Migration from outside of Africa : from 200,000 to 70,000 years old.

After they left a Africa HomoSapiens took a great leap forward and occupied different parts of the world. With this, some of the population shifts took place and new settlements emerged due to adjusting in different surrounding.

8. Upper Palaeolithic time (about 50,000–10,000 years).

This was an era of remarkable creativity with Homo sapiens building intricate implements, artistic artifacts, and cave-paintings. The formation of complex social structure. 

9. Revolution in Agriculture: 10,000 BCE 

The most significant shift was a movement from nomadic hunter gathers to agrarian communities. Human agriculture and the domestication of animals gave rise to permanent settlements 

10. Ancient civilizations: (3000BCE - 500 CE)

Civilization like Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indian, the Indus valley, and China arose that saw the evolution of writing systems, advanced technology and complex societies. 

11. Classical Antiquity: (500BCE - 500 CE)

Civilization blossomed in Greece and Rome, which is still felt today in philosophy, politics, and architecture. The silk Road bacame a channel for interaction between Easterners and Westerners 

12 Medieval period:(500-1500 CE)

This age was marked by feudalism, the emergence of organized religions, the Byzantine and Islamic Golden ages. Societies were impacted by the Crusades and the Black death 

13. During the renaissance, 

art, science, and humanism received their second breath. It led to an age of scientific revolution and of exploration.

14  Age of Enlightenment: (17th-18th centuries)

Reason, Enlightenment, and the scientific method gained popularity. This was an age of political turmoils leading to the current world today’s nations.

15  Industrial Revolution: (18th-19th centuries)

It was through transformations in technology that social transformation emerged, with it mainly changing manufacturing and transport sector. This was an era that involved rapid industrial development and urbanisation accompanied by social transformation.

16  Modern Era: (20th century-present)

The twentieth century had the world wars, scientific innovations, and globalization. The twentieth-first-century world witnesses growth in new technology, communications and international integration.

These are basically major points for man developing sequentially, starting from an ape look alike, to today’s advanced world.