History of human beings: 15 key dates

The history of human beings dates back to 6 million years ago when we differentiated ourselves from other primates. From there, the evolution of our species went through different critical moments that have made us who we are today.

Although there were other human species such as Neanderthals, Homo sapiens managed to establish themselves throughout the world and the other species perished. Our ancestors managed to dominate the face of the Earth in a matter of millennia as we will see below.

• Related article: "The 70 best wise phrases in history"

15 key moments that explain the history of the human being

This article allows us to have an overview of the key moments in which there were great changes in humanity. We will see that there is a great acceleration as time passes, the first dates being much older than we might think a priori.

Or we can look at it in another way; the latest dates are tremendously recent. If in the first three dates we are talking about millions of years, it is not more than 5,000 years since the first societies appeared. We give way, then, to the 15 key dates in the history of human beings.

• To find out what our ancestors ate and how we can emulate them: "¿What is the paleo diet? Discover their main ideas"

1. 6 million years ago: differentiation between humans and chimpanzees

6 million years ago a female simian had descendants that started different evolutionary lines. One daughter became the grandmother of all chimpanzees and the other our grandmother

2. 2.5 million years ago: differentiation between "homos" and the other apes

Starting with an ape that we know as Australopithecus, the evolutionary line of humans differed from other apes that disappeared.

3. 2 million years ago: Eurasia and evolution of different human species

On this date, humans manage to spread to the Arabian peninsula, leaving Africa for the first time. From there they will be able to spread throughout the European and Asian continent.

• You may be interested in: "Foods rich in protein and essential amino acids"

4. 500,000 years ago: Neanderthal

Neanderthals differ from other human species (homo erectus, homo rudolfensis, etc). They are established in Europe and the Middle East.

5. 300,000 years ago: fire

The human being is capable of mastering fire for everyday uses. This allows food to be cooked, spending much less time chewing and digesting. Humans obtain energy more easily.

6. 200,000 years ago: homo sapiens

A species of hominids appears in East Africa that is going to make a difference. At the moment they are evolving in this region of the world.

• Related article: "The 15 best short legends (and their explanation)"

7. 70,000 years ago: cognitive revolution

Homo sapiens develops unique cognitive abilities: fictional language appears. They manage to cross into Eurasia and the story begins as such.

8. 30,000 years ago: Neanderthal extinction

The impact of Homo sapiens' contact with other human species is enormous. After a few millennia of years, all the others end up disappearing and only homo sapiens remains on the face of the Earth.

9. 16,000 years ago: discovery of America

The true discoverers of America were not Columbus and his companions, but other human homo sapiens who arrived there 15,500 years earlier. The descendants of him are those who will be considered as "natives" of America.

• It might interest you: "10 great short Mexican legends (you should know)"

10. 12,000 years ago: agriculture

The man begins to be able to dominate certain species of cereals around the world. This stops humans from being hunters and gatherers, and allows human populations to grow exponentially.

11. 5,000 years ago: society

Great societies and empires begin to flourish in certain regions of the world. Mesopotamia and Egypt represent the beginning of this era, which will be continued by the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian Empire, and the Persian Empire.

12. 2,000 years ago: Roman Empire and Christianity

The Roman Empire dominates the entire basin of the Mediterranean Sea. It reaches such a size that it manages to pay an army of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and more than one hundred thousand officials. One hundred million subjects pay taxes to the Romans.

• It might interest you: "Plato's cave myth: explanation of this allegory"

13. 500 years ago: science, colonialism and capitalism

Humanity recognizes its ignorance and acquires a new power thanks to science. Europeans begin to conquer America and explore the world through oceans. This makes the world begin to be one, showing the roots of globalization and capitalism.

14. 200 years ago: industrial revolution

The industrial revolution makes the population grow more exponentially. People are no longer so community and family centered. The state and the market gain power. In this period many plants and animals on the planet become extinct.

15. Present: technological revolution

Technology opens up new horizons for us. Natural selection is no longer the one that determines the evolution of Earth's organisms, with the human being who has the last word. The survival of humanity and the planet can end nuclear weapons.

• You might want to read: "60 Trivia Questions (And Their Answers)"

Bibliographic references

• Guillén-Salazar, F. (2005). I exist, so I think: primates and the evolution of human intelligence. Madrid: Ateles Editores.

• Harari, Y.N. (2014). Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. London: Harvill Secker

• Morgan Allman, John (2003), The Evolving Brain. Ariel: Barcelona.