Neanderthals Vs Modern Humans Essay

The history of life goes back over a million of years ago. The earliest evidence of humans in Europe, date about 1.8 million years ago (Smiley 2016, unit 11). Many years later, a partial skeleton was found and it was pretty evident that it belonged to an extinct human our closest evolutionary relative (Paabo, 2006). Many species have evolved and changed to what we call modern man. The Neanderthals and the Denisovans are very similar to modern man and are frequently referred to as “early modern humans”. The relationship between Neanderthals and modern humans has been debated between anthropologists. The major attraction is the possibly of Neanderthals and modern humans were genetically different species or a single species capable of producing offspring. In the essay, I will be comparing the similarities and differences between these three species and if Neanderthals were fully “human”. Most people of European and Asian descent have inherited up to 4% of their DNA from Neanderthals (Smiley 2016, unit 11). Modern humans, Neanderthals and the Denisovans, descended from a common ancestor. The three species were all descended for the ancient human H. heidelbergenesis, between 300,000 and 400,000 years ago. The ancestors of modern humans broke off this branch more than 500,000 years ago (Spector, 2014). The Neanderthals formed their group that lived in Europe and Asia from around 200,000 to …show more content…
Modern humans have larger brains, which help facilitate our complex language. Our earlier ancestors had a shorter childhood, brain had an early growth spurt compared to humans today, who have longer childhood and it takes almost two decades for a fully mature brain (Becoming human 1, 2009). Modern humans have opposable thumbs, which help us be more advanced toolmakers, use of fire and cooking. Modern humans have increased creativity (art), intelligence and religion has been