A timeline of human events going back 200,000 years.

frankcreed
May 25, 2020
2 min read

For millions of years all humans, early and modern alike, had to find their own food. They spent a large part of each day gathering plants and hunting or scavenging animals. Then, within just the past 12,000 years, our species, Homo sapiens, made the transition to producing food and changing our surroundings. We have been so successful that we have inadvertently created a turning point in the history of life on Earth.

200,000 Years Ago

Modern Humans Evolve in Africa

During a time of dramatic climate change, modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved in Africa. Like early humans, modern humans gathered and hunted food. They evolved behaviors that helped them respond to the challenges of survival.

The first modern humans shared the planet with at least three species of early humans. Over time, as modern humans spread around the world, the other three species became extinct. We became the sole survivors in the human family tree.

By 164,000 years ago

Modern humans collect and cook shellfish

By 130,000 years ago

Modern humans exchange resources over long distances

By 90,000 years ago

Modern humans make special tools for fishing

Between 80,000 and 60,000 years ago

Modern humans spread to Asia

By 77,000 years ago

Modern humans record information on objects

About 74,000 years ago

Near-extinction!

Modern humans almost become extinct; as a result of extreme climate changes, the population may have been reduced to about 10,000 adults of reproductive age.

By 70,000 years ago

Extinction!

Homo erectus becomes extinct

By 60,000–40,000 years ago

Modern humans create permanent drawings

By 50,000 years ago

Modern humans reach Australia

By 40,000 years ago

Modern humans reach Europe

By 28,000 years ago

Extinction!

Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) become extinct

By 17,000 years ago

Extinction!

Homo floresiensis becomes extinct, leavingmodern humans (Homo sapiens) as the sole survivor in the once diverse human family tree

12,000 Years Ago

The Turning Point

Eventually, humans found they could control the growth and breeding of certain plants and animals. This discovery led to farming and herding animals, activities that transformed Earth’s natural landscapes—first locally, then globally.

As humans invested more time in producing food, they settled down. Villages became towns, and towns became cities. With more food available, the human population began to increase dramatically.

11,200 years ago

Figs cultivated in Lower Jordan Valley, Middle East

11,000 years ago

Jericho, West Bank, begins to grow into a city

10,000 years ago

Cows domesticated in Africa and Middle East

Squash cultivated in Central America

9,500 years ago

Wheat cultivated in Middle East

Çatalhöyük, Turkey, begins to grow into a city

9,000 years ago

Sheep domesticated in Middle East