Page 4 - Istorie_History_Preistoria_Prehistory

2. Prehistory
The place where
The plac e wher e
modern man appeared
modern man appear ed
(homo sapiens)
(homo sapiens)
To Africa-the land of the first people
Here we have arrived with a time machine so far away that
history has not even begun. We are in the African savannahs, in the
period called Paleolithic (about 1,000,000-10,000 BC). In this long
period of time about a million years, our ancestors evolved from
homo erectus at homo sapiens, modern man.

Evolution of man

Australopitec Homo habilis Homo erectus Homo sapiens

5 million 4 million 3 million 2 million 1 million present
years ago years ago years ago years ago years ago
What are the similarities and differences between us, modern humans and our ancestors?
How do you explain the phrase: „Am evoluat de la păr lung la minte ascuțită!” (“We evolved from
long hair to sharp mind!”?

Despite his “monkey-like” appearance, collaboration and communication with other
homo erectus was quite intelligent. He had the members of the group and used fire. This last ability
brain capacity of almost 1200 cubic cm, that is allowed him to leave Africa and venture into much
almost double comparing to his ancestor homo colder areas of the globe. He was thus the first man
habilis. Comparing to him, homo erectus walked to spread throughout the world. It was from this
upright, hunted strong animals, which involved species of primitive humans that we evolved, homo
sapiens.