Chapter 1: From the Beginning of Time
1. When did humans first appear on Earth?
● About 5.6 million years ago, creatures that can be called early humans appeared on
Earth.
● Modern humans (Homo sapiens) appeared about 1,60,000 years ago.
● After this, early humans went through many physical and cultural changes.
2. How did early humans obtain food?
Early humans were hunters and gatherers.
● They hunted animals for meat.
● They collected roots, fruits, seeds, and leaves from plants.
● Sometimes they ate meat from animals that had died naturally or were killed by other
animals.
● Even after learning farming, hunting and gathering continued in some regions.
● Even today, some hunter-gatherer societies exist in the world.
3. What is a Fossil?
● A fossil is the remains or impressions of very old plants, animals, or humans.
● These remains turn into stone and get preserved in rocks.
● Fossils help us understand human evolution and ancient life.
4. What is a Species?
● A species is a group of living beings.
● Male and female members of a species can produce children.
● Their children can also reproduce in the future.
5. Why is human evolution called a gradual process?
● Human evolution happened slowly over millions of years.
● By studying fossils and their age, scientists can arrange the stages of human
development.
● In 1856, fossils were found in the Neander Valley (Germany).
● These fossils were different from modern humans.
● Scientists concluded that they belonged to an extinct human species.
6. Charles Darwin and his contribution
● Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species on 24 November 1859.
● He explained that humans evolved gradually from animals.
● The first edition of the book was sold out on the same day.
● His ideas strongly influenced the study of evolution.
7. What are Primates?
● Primates are a sub-group of mammals.
● They include monkeys, apes, and humans.
● Features:
● Hair on the body
● Long pregnancy period
● Different types of teeth
8. Australopithecus
● The word comes from Latin (south) and Greek (ape).
● Australopithecus lived mainly in Africa.
● They could walk upright but also lived on trees.
9. Homo
● Homo is a Latin word meaning “human”.
● It includes both men and women.
● Main species:
● Homo habilis – tool maker
● Homo erectus – walked upright
● Homo sapiens – thinking human
10. Anthropology
● Anthropology is the study of human culture and biological evolution.
11. Difference between Hominid and Hominin
Hominin
● Smaller brain
● Walked upright on two legs
● Used hands to make tools
● Appeared about 5.6 million years ago
Hominid
● Larger brain
● Walked on four limbs
● Did not use tools
● Appeared earlier than hominins
12. Ice Age
Beginning
● Started about 2.5 million years ago
● Large parts of Earth were covered with ice
● Climate became cold and dry
● Grasslands increased, forests decreased
End
● Ended about 13,000 years ago
● Humans started farming and animal domestication
13. Tool-making by early humans
● Earliest stone tools were found in Ethiopia and Kenya.
● Australopithecus probably made the first tools.
● Around 35,000 years ago, tools improved:
● Spears and bows were invented
● Meat was cleaned, dried, and stored
● Needles were invented for sewing clothes
● First stitched clothes appeared about 21,000 years ago
14. Prehistoric Period
● The time before written records is called Prehistoric Period.
● It includes the period from the appearance of humans to the invention of writing.
15. Two theories of modern human origin
● Regional Continuity Theory – Humans evolved in different regions.
● Replacement Theory – Humans originated in Africa and spread to other regions.