Early Humans


  • Hominids: Earliest human-like beings, ape-like, appeared 4.5 million years ago in Africa.
  • Homo habilis: First humans, used limbs for walking, had small forehead.
  • Homo erectus: Appeared nearly 3 million years ago, erect posture, better hand use, thick body hair, ate wild fruits and animals, no clothing.
  • Evolution: From wild animal-like to superior beings with larger brains, used stone tools, fire, and travelled continents.


Notable Homo erectus

  • Java men (Indonesia): 165 cm tall, small brain, bent forward.
  • Peking men (China): Used fire, made stone tools, stood upright.
  • Heidelberg men (Germany): 165 cm tall, possibly first to develop speech.

Development into Modern Humans

Homo sapiens ('wise men'): Evolved ~40,000 years ago, refined in all aspects.

Neanderthals (Germany): Strong, large brain, speech, civilised, used animal skin clothing.

Cro-magnon men (France/Spain): 6 feet tall, sewed clothes, cave paintings.

Races Evolved

  • Negroes: Africa, later spread globally.
  • Mongolians: Central Asia, spread to Siberia, China, Japan.
  • Aryans: Southeast Europe, spread to Europe, Iran, India (Indo-Aryans).


Evidence of Early Humans

  • Human Fossils: Remains like skeletons, teeth.
  • Human Bones: Broken skeletons indicate past activities.
  • Utensils/Tools: Stone tools (hand axes), bone/antler tools for hunting, fishing.
  • Cave Paintings: Sophisticated colours, depicted hunting scenes.
  • Shelters: Caves used for protection against cold.

B. Answer the following:

1. Comment on the appearance of the Homo habilis men.

Ans: Homo habilis men appeared ape-like, with a small forehead, body bent forward, and limbs resembling those of gorillas. They had thick hair on their bodies.

2. How was the erect posture of the early humans helpful to them?

Ans: The erect posture allowed early humans to see farther, make better use of their hands, and likely contributed to their ability to travel and hunt more effectively.

3. How were the Peking men superior to the Java men?

Ans: Peking men were superior to Java men as they were more advanced, lived in well-constructed huts, and had an average height of 165 cm, indicating possible physical and cognitive advancements.


4. Comment on the three different races of the human beings.

Ans: The three different races mentioned are likely referring to variations among early humans like the Java men, Peking men, and others, indicating diversity in physical characteristics and possibly geographical adaptations.


5. List the evidences that tell about the early humans.

Ans: Evidences include:

  1. Fossils (human bones)
  2. Utensils and tools made of stone
  3. Cave paintings depicting hunting and daily life
  4. Shelters like caves and constructed huts