Human evolution

Human evolution is the process by which humans developed from early primates to the modern form we recognize today. The evolutionary history of humans can be traced back over 6 million years, to the divergence of the lineages that led to modern humans and chimpanzees.

The earliest known hominids, or human ancestors, were the Sahelanthropus tchadensis, which lived about 7 million years ago. These early hominids had a mixture of ape-like and human-like characteristics, including a skull with a mixture of ape-like and human-like features, as well as ape-like arms and legs but with a human-like spine.

Over time, hominids evolved a more human-like body plan, including a more upright posture and the ability to walk on two legs (bipedalism). This allowed them to better explore and exploit their environment and to eventually develop more complex tools and behaviours.

Hominids also evolved larger brains, which allowed them to process information more efficiently and to develop language and other forms of communication. This increased brain size and cognitive ability allowed hominids to adapt to changing environments, form complex social groups, and develop culture.

The most recent common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees lived about 6 million years ago, and the two lines of ancestry diverged from there. Modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved about 200,000 years ago and are now the only surviving species of the Homo genus.

Throughout human evolution, there have been many different species of hominids, each with their own unique characteristics and adaptations. However, all of these species are part of the same broader evolutionary tree, and they all share a common ancestry with modern humans.