homework encyclopedia

362 History

First Modern Humans

Homo sapiens (modern humans) first evolved between

200,000 BCE and 100,000 BCE. They were like ourselves,

physically, and had the same brain power. They

developed many skills of survival, and advanced

. FLINT-KNAPPING techniques for making better tools.

HOW DID MODERN HUMANS REACH OTHER AREAS?

Wandering groups of modern humans moved out of

Africa, in search of food, around 125,000 BCE. They

reached other continents via land bridges – areas

of seabed left uncovered as the Earth’s water froze

during the last Ice Age (c. 70,000 BCE to c. 10,000 BCE).

By c. 28,000 BCE, they had replaced all earlier

hominins (human like primates) or similar,

including the Neanderthals.

WHERE DID THE FIRST MODERN HUMANS LIVE?

Most archaeologists think that Homo sapiens first lived in Africa, and that our direct

ancestor was Homo habilis (“handy man”), who evolved about 2.5 million years ago.

But some believe our ancestor was Homo ergaster (“work man”), who developed

around 1.9 million years ago. This issue about where modern humans first lived and

settled continues to divide opinions.

WHO WERE NEANDERTHALS AND

WHY DID THEY DISAPPEAR?

Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) are a closely

related, but separate species to Homo sapiens. They

lived in Europe and Asia from c. 200,000 BCE to

c. 28,000 BCE. The spread of modern humans

may have been the cause of their extinction.

1 CAVE PAINTING

This plump horse is one of more than 600

cave paintings, from c. 15,000 BCE, found at

Lascaux, France. Early modern humans probably

believed that animals had magical powers, used

to protect families and tribes, or help hunters.

4 NEANDERTHAL SKULL

Neanderthals had larger brains than modern humans. Their short, stocky

build and broad nose helped them to conserve body heat in Europe’s

chilly Ice-Age climate. They relied more on strength than brain power.

1 THE SPREAD OF

MODERN HUMANS

The arrows on this map show

how modern humans may have

spread out from Africa. The dates

record the age of the earliest

modern-human bones and tools

found on each continent.

1 MODERN HUMAN SKULL

The first modern humans were tall, and had slender bones, high-domed

foreheads, smooth brows, and small jaws. Their muscles were not as well

developed as those of the Neanderthals, and their eyesight was weaker.

POSSIBLE ROUTE TAKEN BY MODERN HUMANS

EXTENT OF ICE SHEETS c.. 10,000 BCE

200,000–

150,000 BCE

125,000 BCE

40,000 BCE 45,000 BCE

21,000 BCE

11,000 BCE

12,000 BCE

13,000 BCE

50,000 BCE

60,000 BCE

100,000 BCE

AFRICA

AUSTRALASIA

NORTH

AMERICA

SOUTH

AMERICA

EUROPE

Smaller jaw – large jaw

not needed as today’s

humans do not eat tough

roots and leaves

25,000 BCE

35,000 BCE

ASIA

Thick ridge

above brow