This chapter explains the evolution of humans, starting from the very beginning of upright humans about 4 million years ago. The first humans were Homo habilis and then the Homo erectus who were the first to leave Africa, the place of human origin. Neanderthals are the humans that lived 130,000-40,000 years ago in Europe and western Asia. Although they are usually represented by savage, animal like characteristics, Neanderthals actually bigger brains than ours. They were also the first humans to show evidence of burying the dead and caring for their sick. Around 50,000 years ago humans started using stone tools, jewelry, needles, fishhooks, awls, and engraving tools. Diamond calls this time “The Great Leap Forward”. The humans that lived around
