ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the roles of tools and fire in the evolution of humans are assessed, and the migration of Homo erectus out of Africa is discussed. The lengthy and complex history of interactions between various groups of humans across the globe is explored, and the rise of the first Homo sapiens 315,000 years ago is reviewed. The African continent’s influence in promoting the evolution of Homo sapiens is also evaluated, and the recent migration of Homo sapiens out of Africa is investigated. When modern Homo sapiens migrated from Africa to the Near East, they encountered Neanderthals and other humans that had previously settled the region. Soon after, the other groups of humans went extinct, and today, only Homo sapiens remain. The conditions that may have given rise to the extinction of our sister species are explored, and the subsequent global colonization of Homo sapiens is surveyed. In the final pages of the chapter, the genetic similarities between modern individual Homo sapiens are contemplated, and the genes and conditions that gave rise to grammatical language and complex culture are considered. The current rate of technological progress and the consequences of the rapid rate of technological innovation are also evaluated.
