Chapter 2
Human Evolution and Origin

Charles Darwin published in 1856 his book The Origin of Species. In this revolutionary work he discussed how evolution worked and how diversity of life could be explained without the presence of supernatural beings. Darwin focused on animals and plants and did not discuss the origin or evolution of humans. Four years later, Thomas Henry Huxley, a friend and supporter of Darwin, published Evidence as to Man’s Place in Nature which is one of the first books on human evolution. Through comparative analysis of apes and humans as well as fossils of early humans Huxley came to the conclusion that humans have a close evolutionary relationship to African apes.

Darwin, Huxley and other scientists at the time argued that all living organisms, including humans were a product of the same evolutionary processes. These thoughts were revolutionary in that they placed humans as being part of nature and not being apart of nature, despite of the uniqueness of humans over other animals.

Palaeoanthropology is the study of human evolution which deals with the evolutionary processes that resulted in the emergence of the modern human (Homo sapiens). This scientific discipline has provided ample evidence that establishes a link between apes and humans, and aims to address two major questions: (1) how big are the differences between humans and other animals, and (2) to what extent are humans unique as a species and in the way they have acquired their basic characteristics.

This chapter provides a brief overview to the evolutionary processes that resulted in the emergence of the modern human (Homo sapiens) and discusses the origin of humans.