Humans (variously Homo
sapiens and Homo sapiens sapiens) are primates of the
family Hominidae,
and the only extant
species of the genus Homo.[2][3]
Humans are distinguished from other primates by their bipedal
locomotion, and especially by their relatively larger
brain
with its particularly well developed neocortex, prefrontal
cortex and temporal lobes, which enable high levels of abstract reasoning, language, problem
solving, and culture
through social learning. Humans use tools to a much higher degree than any other animal, and are the
only extant species known to build fires and cook their food, as well as the only known species to clothe
themselves and create and use numerous other technologies
and arts. The
scientific study of humans is the discipline of anthropology.
Humans are uniquely adept at utilizing systems of
symbolic communication such as language and art for self-expression, the
exchange of ideas, and organization. Humans create complex social
structures composed of many cooperating and competing groups, from families and kinship networks
to states. Social interactions between humans have
established an extremely wide variety of values, social norms, and rituals, which
together form the basis of human society. The human desire to understand and
influence their environment, and to explain and manipulate phenomena has been
the foundation for the development of science, philosophy,
mythology,
and religion.
Homo sapiens originated in Africa, where it
reached anatomical modernity about 200,000 years
ago and began to exhibit full behavioral modernity around 50,000 years ago.[4]
The human lineage diverged from the last common ancestor with its closest living
relative, the chimpanzee, some five million years ago, evolving into the
australopithecines
and eventually the genus Homo.[5] The
first Homo species to move out of Africa was Homo
erectus, the African variety of which, together with Homo heidelbergensis, is considered to be
the immediate ancestor of modern humans.[6][7] Homo
sapiens proceeded to colonize the continents, arriving in Eurasia
125,000–60,000 years ago,[8][9] Australia
around 40,000 years ago, the Americas around 15,000 years ago, and remote islands such as
Hawaii, Easter
Island, Madagascar,
and New
Zealand between the years AD 300 and 1280.[10][11]
Humans began to practice sedentary agriculture
about 12,000 years ago, domesticating plants and animals which allowed for the
growth of civilization. Humans subsequently established various
forms of government, religion, and culture around the world, unifying people
within a region and leading to the development of states and empires. The rapid
advancement of scientific and medical understanding in the 19th and 20th
centuries led to the development of fuel-driven technologies and improved
health, causing the human population to rise exponentially. With individuals
widespread in every continent except Antarctica,
humans are a cosmopolitan species, and by 2012, their population
was estimated to be around 7 billion.[12][13]
Source:Wikipedia
