Our remote ancestors are the first humans to have lived on earth. They
appeared around 2.5 million years ago in Africa and belonged to the Homo genus.
The earliest known species of Homo was Homo habilis, which lived between 2.8
and 1.5 million years ago.
Homo habilis was followed by Homo erectus, which lived between 1.8 million
and 300,000 years ago. This species was the first to use fire and create more
sophisticated tools. They also migrated out of Africa and spread across Asia
and Europe.
Around 400,000 years ago, another species, Homo heidelbergensis, emerged in
Africa. They were taller and had a larger brain than Homo erectus, and were
likely the ancestors of both Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthals) and Homo
sapiens (modern humans).
The Neanderthals lived in Europe and western Asia between 400,000 and
40,000 years ago. They were well-adapted to living in cold environments and had
a complex culture that included art and burial rituals.
Meanwhile, Homo sapiens appeared in Africa around 300,000 years ago. They
were similar to Homo heidelbergensis but had a larger brain and a more advanced
culture. By around 50,000 years ago, Homo sapiens had spread across the world,
replacing other hominid species, including the Neanderthals.
Our remote ancestors played a significant role in the evolution of human
civilization. They were the first to develop tools, use fire, and create art.
They also migrated across the world and adapted to a wide range of
environments.
Today, we continue to learn about our remote ancestors through the study of
archaeology, genetics, and other scientific fields. Our understanding of our
remote ancestors helps us to better appreciate our own history and the
incredible journey of human evolution.
