Evolution of the Human Species: Part 1

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on human evolution.

Australopithecus

An early hominid genus (southern apes) living in eastern Africa about 3.7–3.0 million years ago; possibly ancestral to later hominids; Lucy belongs to this group.

Lucy

A 3.2-million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis skeleton discovered in 1974 in Ethiopia; about 4 ft tall, bipedal, with human-like teeth, indicating upright walking and some tree-climbing.

Laetoli footprints

3.6-million-year-old fossil footprints in Tanzania showing upright walking with a modern-like stride; indicate adults and child walking together.

Upright walking

The ability to walk on two legs. Appeared around 4.5–4.3 million years ago and enabled freed hands for tool use and other tasks.

Hominid

The biological family that includes modern humans and their human ancestors.

Homo erectus

An early human ancestor ('upright person') that first left Africa, spread to Asia and Europe, used fire, and lived from about 1.8 million to 30,000 years ago.

Fire

Controlled use of fire by Homo erectus, enabling cooking, warmth, and survival in colder climates, and aiding social and geographic expansion.

Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis)

A hominid species in Europe and SW to central Asia from ~400,000 to 30,000 years ago; stockier with a large face and front teeth; used tools, fire, clothing, and buried their dead.

Homo sapiens

The species of hominids to which modern humans belong; originated in Africa around 300,000 years ago; brains and language enabled advanced toolmaking and communication.

Happisburgh footprints

Ancient footprints found in Happisburgh, England, evidence that early hominins reached northern Europe earlier than previously thought.

Three main physical traits of humans

Upright walking, flexible hands, and larger brains, distinguishing humans from other primates.

Opposable thumb

A thumb with independent movement enabling strong precision grip, enabling complex tool use by early hominids.

Stone tools

Early tools made from stone; first widespread use around 3.3 million years ago; more complex tools allowed by longer distance transport and planning.

Brain size and skull shape

Brain enlarged relative to body size; skull adapted to accommodate a larger brain; linked to dietary changes and language development.

Diet changes in evolution

Shift toward easier-to-chew fruits and nuts as teeth and jaws evolved, reducing wear from tougher forest vegetation.

Climate change and evolution

Environmental changes that triggered bursts of evolution in human ancestors, shaping physical and behavioral adaptations.

What are the three main species of human ancestors that migrated out of Africa, and approximately when did each migration occur?

Homo erectus about 1 million years ago, ancestors of Neanderthals about 500,000 years ago, and Homo sapiens about 100,000 years ago.

What factors likely triggered early human migration out of Africa?

Climate change, following prey, and social pressures.

How did small annual human movements accumulate into larger migrations?

Evans moving 20-30 miles a year adds up to hundreds or thousands of miles over generations.

How do scholars reconstruct ancient human migrations?

By finding fossils with matching DNA in different parts of the world.

Why was the migration of Homo sapiens considered a remarkable success?

They spread worldwide, including inhospitable environments like polar regions and deserts.

How did ice ages help early humans migrate to distant lands?

Lower sea levels connected landmasses previously separated by water, making migration easier.

When did the last ice age begin and how long did it last?

It started 110,000 years ago and lasted nearly 100,000 years.

Around when did Homo sapiens reach western Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia?

Western Asia ~100,000 years ago, Southeast Asia ~63,000 years ago, Australia ~40,000 years ago.

What innovation allowed Homo sapiens to reach Australia and surrounding islands?

Learning to build boats to cross seas.

By when had Homo sapiens settled across the entire Eurasian continent?

By about 30,000 years ago.

Which human ancestors migrated out of Africa, and approximately when?

Homo erectus (~1 million years ago), ancestors of Neanderthals (~500,000 years ago), and Homo sapiens (~100,000 years ago).

What factors likely triggered early human migrations out of Africa?

Climate change, following prey, and social pressures.

How did ice ages affect early human migration?

Lower sea levels connected landmasses, allowing humans to migrate across areas previously separated by water.

When did Homo sapiens reach Australia, and how?

About 40,000 years ago, after learning to build boats to cross seas.

What defines the Paleolithic period?

The "Old Stone Age" when humans used stone tools and lived as gatherer-hunters.

What distinguishes the Neolithic period?

The "New Stone Age" marked by farming and the development of specialized stone tools for cultivating plants.

How did the use of stone tools evolve during the Paleolithic?

Early tools were simple flakes; later, more symmetrical hand axes were created (Acheulian tools), and Homo sapiens developed even more complex tools from bone, antler, ivory, and invented the needle.

What was the role of fire in early human life?

Fire was used for warmth, protection, cooking food, and social interaction, enabling survival in colder climates.

Describe typical Paleolithic community life.

Small groups (15-40 people), egalitarian, close family bonds, shared resources, used caves or built shelters, and relied on cooperation for survival.

What are mammoth bone dwellings?

Circular huts made from mammoth bones and hides, built around 17,000 years ago in Eastern Europe, enabling living outside caves in cold climates.

What do Neanderthal burial practices suggest?

Care for the dead, use of flower garlands, grave goods, and belief in life after death or connection between generations.

What is significant about the Blombos Cave findings?

Oldest known decorated objects (~75,000 to 72,000 years old) showing early symbolic behavior and artistic expression.

What are Paleolithic statuettes of women, like the Venus of Willendorf?

Small figurines emphasizing female fertility features, made from materials like limestone and ivory, possibly linked to fertility, social roles, or communication.

Why is interpretation of female figurines difficult?

Early archaeologists didn’t record associated artifacts or architecture, limiting contextual understanding; interpretations vary from fertility symbols to social communication tools.

Where are most Paleolithic cave paintings found, and what do they depict?

Mostly in southern France and northern Spain; they depict animals like horses and bison, handprints, and sometimes 3D animal sculptures, indicating hunting’s importance and early human communication.

How did Paleolithic art contribute to human societies?

Art preserved meanings beyond the artist’s life, fostering communication across generations and strengthening social cohesion and cultural sophistication.