Early Humans

Anthropologists

Scientists who study human beings, their societies, cultures, and development.

Mary Leakey

An anthropologist who discovered the skull of a hominid in East Africa, specifically Ethiopia.

Hominids

Humans' closest relatives.

Lucy

The skeleton discovered by Mary Leakey, dated to at least 3 million years ago. Lucy was around 4 feet tall and is known as an australopithecine.

Homo habilis

Also known as "Handy Man," Homo habilis appeared around 2 million years ago and was the first to make stone tools.

Homo erectus

Hominids that appeared around 2 million years ago. They walked upright, had larger brains and bones, and smaller teeth. Believed to be the first to master fire and develop the hand ax.

Homo sapiens

Modern humans who emerged from Homo erectus. Most believed in the "Out of Africa" theory.

Neanderthals

A group of Homo sapiens who lived mainly in Europe and Western Asia and disappeared between 50,000 and 30,000 years ago.

Paleolithic

The correct name for the Old Stone Age. It was a period beginning several million years ago and ending around 14,000 BC.

Hunter-gatherers

People who relied on hunting and gathering for their food and resources.

Nomadic

Moving from place to place in search of food and resources.

Animism

Belief in spirits and forces connected to animals, as well as an afterlife.