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This video explains what some of the ancient humans were like and how modern humans became who we are today.

This video explains what some of the ancient humans were like and how modern humans became who we are today. It gives us five examples of ancient humans, including modern humans, and how they developed over time. It shows how far we have come as a species by building on the development of the species before us.

Australopithecus

These species were small-brained creatures in east Africa who lived 3-4 million years ago. They had apelike faces but walked upright on two legs. They also had strong arms and curved fingers that were perfect for climbing trees.

Homo Habilis

This species lived 2.4-1.4 million years ago, also in Africa. They had ape-like features, but with smaller teeth and faces and larger skulls than the Australopithecus. Their nickname is “handy-man” because they made and used tools.

Homo Erectus

This species coexisted for half a million years with the Homo Habilis and lived 1.9 million-140,000 years ago. They had more of a human-like body than their predecessors and traveled from Africa to Asia and even to parts of Europe. They also improved on tool making and used fire to cook their food.

Neanderthal

This species is our closest extinct human relative, living 300,000-30,000 years ago. They adapted to their cold living conditions by becoming short and stocky. Like modern humans, they buried their dead.

Homo Sapiens

This species are modern humans. Since our early years of existence, Homo Sapiens have moved around the world and continued to adapt to their environment. We have larger brains that have helped us create more complex tools, languages, and agriculture practices. We have created new cultures and invented the technology that we use today.

Modern humans have come a long way from our ancestors. Yet it is still interesting to see what similarities and differences we share with ancient humans. In reality, we should be grateful for all the ancient human development over time for making us who we are today.

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Key Points:

  • Australopithecus. These species were small-brained creatures in east Africa who lived 3-4 million years ago.
  • Homo Habilis. This species lived 2.4-1.4 million years ago, also in Africa.
  • Homo Erectus. This species coexisted for half a million years with the Homo Habilis and lived 1.9 milion-140,000 years ago.
  • Neanderthal. This species is our closest extinct human relative, living 300,000-30,000 years ago.
  • Homo Sapiens. This species are modern humans.

Quote This:

With the exception of certain rodents, no other vertebrate except Homo sapiens habitually destroys members of his own species. -Anthony Storr

Talk About It
  1. What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. How have we as Homo Sapiens built on all the ancient humans before us?
  3. What tool could you imagine inventing if you were an ancient human?
  4. What is one of your favorite tools in your tool chest or in your kitchen? Why?
  5. What is something that you use every day that you could not live without? What would you do if it just disappeared?
  6. Do you think you could have survived a million years ago? Could you have survived even a hundred years ago? Why or why not?
  7. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.