1. Australopithecus:
- Around 4 million to 2 million years ago, a group of primates called Australopithecus lived in Africa. They are considered to be among the earliest known human ancestors.
2. Homo Habilis:
- Between 2.4 million and 1.4 million years ago, Homo habilis appeared. They are believed to be the first hominids to make and use stone tools.
3. Homo Erectus:
- Homo erectus existed from about 1.8 million to 140,000 years ago. They spread from Africa to Asia and are known for their improved stone tool technology, larger brains, and possibly controlled use of fire.
4. Homo Neanderthalensis:
- Neanderthals lived in Eurasia from approximately 600,000 to 40,000 years ago. They had a robust physique and were skilled toolmakers. Neanderthals coexisted with modern humans (Homo sapiens) for some time.
5. Homo Sapiens (Modern Humans):
- Homo sapiens, our species, emerged around 300,000 years ago in Africa. Modern humans gradually spread throughout the world, replacing or interbreeding with other hominid species.
It's worth noting that the dates and timelines presented here are approximate and subject to ongoing research and revisions. The study of human evolution is a dynamic field, and new discoveries continue to shed light on our ancient ancestors and their existence on Earth.