What is homo erectus?

homo erectus is a extinct member of the family homo whose only surviving member is people, homo sapiens . Rod homo is the fourth apes, with other members being chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans, which is part of a homonide family. Sometimes the word "man" is used interchangeably with the family homo , although homo erectus was definitely not a modern man. The species is called erectus due to its upright posture and human walking. Members of this species lived between 1.8 million and about 500,000 years ago (but perhaps only 30,000 years ago), which appeared in Africa and migrated to Southeast Asia. Otherwise, this species would look remarkable like a modern man, much more than his chimpanzee -like predecessor, homo habilis . Nevertheless, he lacked the ability of a complicated speech, as shown in the Turkana Boy sample analysis found in Kenya in 1984.

Homo erectus was the first homonide to achieve many milestones: this was the first of Africa and the first to use the fire in a controlled way - though not normally - perhaps 1.5 million years ago, although the oldest non -commercial date is 300,000 Bc. Members of this kind were also the first sailors to travel to Southeast Asia Islands. They had a height similar to modern people and prolonged childhood.

Hunting was for the first time systematic members of this kind and promoted the second main industry, symbolized by the Acheulian Handaxes, which are created by leaving both faces of the object. These tools were useful for scratching fat from carcasses. This species also made the first known killing of mammoths.

Most scientists believe that homo sapiens is a direct descendant homo erectus and others are not so sure. Species considered more advanced than the homo homoesecestor , h. Heidelbergensis and h. Neandertalensis.