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Australopithecus Afarensis (Southern ape)
4 million years B.C.E .Australopithecus Afarensis, otherwise known as “Southern Ape”. These earliest humans were found in Africa. They were short three feet tall.They also had a big forehead and jawbone. Both forehead and jawbone were stuck out. The Australopithecus Afarensis were not smart enough to speak or use tools. These early humans also walked on two feet. -
Homo Habilis (Handy Man)
2 million years BCE. Homo Habilis also known as Handy Man were found in Africa walked on two legs and were a whole foot taller of the Australopithecus Afarensis being four feet tall. They had very simple tools like rock chopping tools and sharp stones for cutting. These were the first humans that knew how to make tools and work together.The importance of being able to make tools helped them out with cutting and chopping. -
Homo Erectus (UpRight Man)
1.8 million years BCE. Homo Erectus found in an island called Java by Asia. They had a ridge above their eyes they were very tall being almost six foot. They had a much thicker skull and migrated from region to region. Another name for Homo erectus is upright man. They made strong hand axes made of stone. These ancient men were the first people to discover fire. The importance of making fire was they were able to scare away animals cook food and use it to make sharper weapons. -
Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis (Neanderthals)
230,000 to 30,000 years ago. Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis lived in AfricaThese groups of hominids go by the common name Neanderthals. They were much shorter, stockier and stronger than modern day humans, but still stood 5 ½ feet tall.These hominids used all sorts of tools.Among the tools they used were knives, sharpened stones and bones, scrapers and spear points. These hominids hunted and lived in organized groups or communities. Working together gave them more success in hunting and surviving -
Homo Sapiens Sapiens (Doubley Wise Man)
35,000 to 12,000 BCE. Homo Sapiens Sapiens or modern day humans were also called “Doubly Wise Man”. These men lived in both Africa and Europe. These modern day humans have high rounded skulls and small teeth. Their tools were blades, bones, spear thrower, bow and arrows, hooks, spears, engraving and sculpting tools. They were better hunters with advanced weapons. The ability to express themselves through art work separated them from earlier hominids.
