Who are they, people's ancestors? The basic stages of human evolution

Scientists have not been able to come to a common opinion about who such ancestors of people are, the debate in scientific circles has been going on for more than a century. The most popular is the evolutionary theory proposed by the famous Charles Darwin. Taking for the truth the fact that a person is a "descendant" of an anthropoid ape, it is interesting to trace the main stages of evolution.

Evolutionary theory: the ancestors of humans

As already mentioned, most scientists tend to agree with an evolutionary version that explains the origin of man. The ancestors of people, if you rely on this theory, are the great apes. The process of transformation took over 30 million years, the exact figure was not established.

The founder of the theory is Charles Darwin, who lived in the 19th century. It is based on such factors as natural selection, struggle for existence, hereditary variability.

Parapithecines

Parapithecus is a common ancestor of man and monkey. Presumably these animals inhabited the earth 35 million years ago. It is these ancient primates at the moment that are considered the initial link in the evolution of anthropoid apes. Driopithecines, gibbons and orangutans are their "descendants".

Unfortunately, little is known about ancient primates, the data are obtained thanks to paleontological finds. It was established that the arboreal monkeys preferred to settle on trees or open spaces.

Dryopithecus

Дриопитек - the ancient ancestor of the person, occurred, if to rely on available data, from a parapita. The time of appearance of these animals is not exactly established, scientists suggest that it happened about 18 million years ago. Semi-earth monkeys gave rise to gorillas, chimpanzees and Australopithecus.

To establish that driopithecus can be called the ancestor of modern man, the study of the structure of the teeth and jaw of an animal helped. The material for the study was the remains found in France in 1856. It is known that the brush of the driopithecus allowed them to grab and hold objects, and also throw them. Settled anthropoid apes predominantly on trees, preferred a herd lifestyle (protection from predator attacks). Food they were mainly fruits and berries, which is confirmed by a thin layer of enamel on the molars.

Australopithecus

Australopithecus is a highly developed ape-like ancestor of man, who inhabited the earth presumably about 5 million years ago. Monkeys used to move their hind legs, walked in a semi-rectified position. The growth of the average australopithecus was 130-140 cm, there were also higher or lower individuals. Body weight also differed - from 20 to 50 kg. It was possible to establish and the volume of the brain, which was about 600 cubic centimeters, this figure is higher than that of the great apes that live in our days.

Obviously, the transition to straightness led to the release of hands. Gradually, human predecessors began to master primitive tools used to fight enemies, hunting, but they had not yet begun to make them. Stones, sticks, and animal bones acted as tools. Australopithecus preferred to settle in groups, as it helped to effectively defend themselves against enemies. Nutritional preferences were different, in the course were not only fruits and berries, but also animal meat.

Outwardly Australopithecus looked more like a monkey than a human. Their bodies had a thick hairline.

Man of skill

A man of skill externally did not differ from an Australopithecus, but he was much superior in development. It is believed that the first representative of the human race appeared about two million years ago. The remains of Homo habilis were first found in Tanzania, it happened in 1959. The volume of the brain, which a skilled man possessed, exceeded that of australopithecus (the difference was about 100 cubic centimeters). The growth of the average person did not exceed 150 cm.

The descendants of Australopithecus deserve their name in the first place for the fact that they began to produce primitive tools. Products were mostly stone, used during hunting. It was possible to establish that meat was constantly present in the diet of a man of skill. The study of the biological features of the brain allowed scientists to assume the probability of speech rudiments, but this theory was not directly confirmed.

Homo erectus

The settlement of this species took place about a million years ago, the remains of a bipedal man found in Asia, Europe, Africa. The brain volume, which had representatives of Homo erectus, was up to 1100 cubic centimeters. They were already able to make sounds, but these sounds were still inarticulate.

Homo erectus is known primarily because he excelled in collective activity, which contributed to the increased volume of the brain in comparison with the previous stages of evolution. The ancestors of people successfully hunted large animals, learned how to obtain fire, as evidenced by the heaps of charcoal found in the caves, as well as charred bones.

The bipedal man possessed the same height as the skilful man, distinguished by the archaic structure of the skull (low frontal bone, chamfered chin). Until recently, scientists believed that representatives of this species disappeared approximately 300 thousand years ago, but recent findings disprove this theory. It is not excluded that a straight-faced man found the appearance of modern people.

Neanderthals

Not so long ago it was assumed that Neanderthals are the direct ancestors of modern man. However, recent data allow us to state that they represent a dead-end evolutionary branch. Representatives of Homo neanderthalensis possessed a brain whose volume was approximately equal to the volume of the brain that modern humans are endowed with. Outwardly Neanderthals almost did not resemble monkeys, the structure of their lower jaw speaks of the ability to articulate speech.

It is believed that the Neanderthals appeared about 200 thousand years ago. The places of residence they chose depended on the climate. These could be caves, rocky canopies, river banks. The guns that the Neanderthals made became more sophisticated. The main source of food remained hunting, which was engaged in large groups.

It was possible to find out that Neanderthals had certain rituals, including those related to the afterlife. It was they who had the first rudiments of morality, expressed in the care of their fellow tribesmen. The first timid steps were taken in the sphere of art.

The person reasonable

The first representatives of Homo sapiens appeared about 130 thousand years ago. Some scientists suggest that this happened even earlier. Externally, they looked almost the same? As well as the people inhabiting the planet in our days, did not differ in the volume of the brain.

The artefacts found as a result of archeological excavations make it possible to assert that the first people were highly developed from the point of view of culture. This is evidenced by such finds as cave paintings, various decorations, sculptures and engravings created by them. Approximately 15 thousand years, it took a reasonable person to populate the entire planet. Perfection of the instruments of labor led to the development of the productive economy, such activities as livestock farming and agriculture became popular with Homo sapiens. The first large settlements belong to the Neolithic period.

People and monkeys: similarities

The features of human resemblance and anthropoid apes are still the subject of research. Monkeys are able to move on the hind limbs, but hands are used as a support. The fingers of these animals do not contain claws, but nails. The number of orangutan ribs is 13 pairs, while in the human species there are 12. The number of incisors, canines and molars in humans and monkeys is the same. Also, we can not fail to note the similar structure of the systems of organs and sense organs.

The traits of the similarity of man and the great apes become especially pronounced when they consider ways of expressing feelings. They just show sadness, anger, joy. They have developed a parental instinct, which manifests itself in caring for the cubs. Their offspring, they not only caress, but also punished for disobedience. Monkeys have excellent memory, are able to hold objects and use them as tools.

These animals are susceptible to such diseases as typhoid fever, cholera, smallpox, can become infected with AIDS and influenza. There are common parasites: the head louse.

People and monkeys: the main differences

Not all scientists agree that the great apes are the ancestors of modern man. The volume of the human brain on average is 1600 cubic centimeters, while this figure in animals amounts to 600 cubic meters. See approximately 3.5 times the area of the cerebral cortex.

List differences associated with the appearance, you can long. For example, representatives of the human race have a chin, turned lips, allowing to see the mucous membrane. They do not have fangs, the centers of the species are more developed. Monkeys have a barrel-shaped chest, while in humans it is flat. Also the person is distinguished by an extended pelvis, strengthened sacrum. In animals the length of the trunk exceeds the length of the lower limbs.

People have consciousness, they are able to generalize and abstract, to engage abstract and concrete thinking. Representatives of the human race are able to create tools of labor, develop areas such as art and science. They have a language form of communication.

Alternative theories

As already mentioned, not all people agree that monkeys are human ancestors. Darwin's theory has many opponents, which lead to more and more arguments. There are alternative theories explaining the appearance of representatives of Homo sapiens on the planet Earth. The oldest is the theory of creationism, implying that man is a creation created by a supernatural being. The image of the creator depends on religious beliefs. For example, Christians believe that people appeared on the planet thanks to God.

Another popular theory is space. It says that the human race has an extraterrestrial origin. This theory considers the existence of people as the result of an experiment conducted by the cosmic mind. There is another version, which says that the human race originated from extraterrestrial beings.