Human Evolution
From origins to today: an overview of the human story.
This page introduces humans: who we are, the diversity of human types, behavior, anatomy, geographic distribution, genetics, and the long arc of evolution that shaped our species.
Dimensions of Humanity
Key facets that define and describe our species:
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Human types
Diversity of human populations and classifications across history and geography.
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Human behavior
Patterns of behavior, culture, society, and cognition that characterize humans.
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Human body
Anatomy, physiology, and the biological systems that make up the human body.
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Human geo info
Where humans live: distribution, migration, and adaptation to environments.
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Human DNA
Genetics, heredity, and how DNA tells the story of human ancestry and variation.
Human evolution history
Major milestones in the evolution of the human lineage.
- Early hominins
- ~7–6 Ma Divergence from other great apes; early hominin fossils in Africa.
- Australopithecus
- ~4–2 Ma Bipedalism, tool use; Lucy and related species.
- Genus Homo
- ~2.8 Ma Emergence of Homo; larger brains, stone tools.
- Homo sapiens
- ~300 ka Origin of modern humans in Africa; spread and replacement.
- Today
- Today Global population; culture, technology, and ongoing adaptation.