Human Evolution and Global History

Tokyo, Japan, is the most populous city globally, with a population exceeding 37 million residents.
Red Rock, Ontario, Canada, has a significantly smaller population of under 900 residents.
Human history is rich and diverse across every part of the world, with countless untold stories behind each landscape.

The exploration of world history begins with significant events such as World War I, the French Revolution, African kingdoms, and Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.
The narrative delves back to Earth's past, starting around 85 million years ago.

Primates diverged from other mammals over 85 million years ago, leading to the formation of the family Hominidae (hominins).
The subfamily Hominini, which excludes orangutans, emerged approximately 8.5 million years ago.
Around 7.5 million years ago, early humans branched from chimpanzees within the Hominini lineage.
Key early species included:
- Sahelanthropus and Ardipithecus (up to 7 million years ago)
- Australopithecus (first appeared around 4 million years ago)
- Paranthropus (appeared about 2.7 million years ago)
- Genus Homo (emerged around 1.8 million years ago)

Homo habilis, one of the earliest Homo species, exhibited small brain sizes but began using stone tools.
Homo ergaster and Homo erectus came later, with larger brain sizes and advancements in tool-making and fire control.
Homo heidelbergensis appeared about 800,000 years ago, followed by Homo sapiens, our species, around 150,000 to 200,000 years ago.
Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) diverged from a common ancestor approximately 600,000 to 700,000 years ago, later interbreeding with Homo sapiens.

The Aridity Hypothesis suggests that a shift to drier climates and the expansion of savannahs necessitated adaptations in early humans.
The Savannah Hypothesis posits that this environmental change led early humans to leave arboreal habitats and adopt bipedalism, enhancing advantages in mobility, vision, and tool use.

Walking upright allowed for improved distance vision, energy-efficient travel, and the ability to use tools effectively.
Significant skeletal changes occurred, leading to more complex childbirth and shorter gestation periods for human infants, resulting in greater helplessness compared to other mammals.

Spanning from around 3.3 million years ago to 12,000 years ago, the Paleolithic Era encompasses 99% of technological pre-history.
Early humans lived in small, nomadic tribal societies, relying on hunting, foraging, and the use of fire.
The emergence of primitive art and spiritual practices is noted around 300,000 years ago, reflecting the cultural development of Homo sapiens.

About 12,000 years ago marked a significant shift known as the Neolithic Revolution or Agricultural Revolution, leading to the domestication of plants and animals.
This transition resulted in sedentary lifestyles, escalating human population, and the establishment of social hierarchies due to food surpluses.
The Neolithic Revolution created new societal structures, leading to specialized roles beyond food production, including soldiers, craftsmen, and priests.
Health impacts included increased prevalence of diseases due to proximity to domesticated animals and nutrient deficiencies from a less varied diet.

The innovations of the Neolithic period laid the groundwork for modern society, influencing population growth, labor division, and social stratification.

Tokyo, Japan, holds the title of the most populous city worldwide, with a population exceeding 37 million.
Red Rock, Ontario, Canada, has a substantially smaller population of under 900 individuals.
Global human history is marked by rich diversity and numerous untold stories across various landscapes.

Key historical events include World War I, the French Revolution, notable African kingdoms, and Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.
The exploration of history extends back around 85 million years to Earth’s early past.

Primates diverged from other mammals over 85 million years ago, leading to the development of the Hominidae family.
The Hominini subfamily emerged approximately 8.5 million years ago, excluding orangutans.
About 7.5 million years ago, the splitting line formed between early humans and chimpanzees.
Key early species in human evolution include:
- Sahelanthropus and Ardipithecus (existed up to 7 million years ago)
- Australopithecus (first appeared around 4 million years ago)
- Paranthropus (emerged approximately 2.7 million years ago)
- Genus Homo (emerged around 1.8 million years ago)

Homo habilis was among the earliest members of the Homo species, characterized by smaller brain sizes and the advent of stone tool usage.
Homo ergaster and Homo erectus exhibited larger brain capacities alongside advanced tool-making skills and control of fire.
Homo heidelbergensis appeared roughly 800,000 years ago; Homo sapiens emerged around 150,000 to 200,000 years ago.
Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) diverged from common ancestors around 600,000 to 700,000 years ago and later interbred with Homo sapiens.

The Aridity Hypothesis emphasizes climate shifts towards dryness that drove early human adaptations.
The Savannah Hypothesis suggests that the change in environment prompted early humans to leave tree-dwelling lifestyles and adopt bipedalism, enhancing mobility, vision, and tool use.

Bipedalism improved distance vision and facilitated energy-efficient locomotion, allowing effective tool usage.
Significant skeletal changes led to complex childbirth processes and shorter gestation periods, resulting in infants with greater helplessness compared to other mammals.

The Paleolithic Era, lasting from about 3.3 million years ago to 12,000 years ago, accounts for 99% of technological pre-history.
Early humans lived in small, nomadic tribes, relying on hunting, foraging, and fire for survival.
Primitive art and spiritual practices began to emerge around 300,000 years ago, indicating cultural evolution among Homo sapiens.

Approximately 12,000 years ago, the Neolithic Revolution marked the transition to agricultural societies, emphasizing plant and animal domestication.
This shift led to sedentary lifestyles, population growth, and the formation of social hierarchies due to food surpluses.
New societal structures emerged, creating specialized roles like soldiers, craftsmen, and priests.
Health impacts included increased disease risk from proximity to domesticated animals and nutrient deficiencies due to a less varied diet.