Homo erectus Leaves Africa

What happened

Homo erectus, which first appeared in Africa around 2 million years ago, had modern human-like body proportions built for walking and running long distances. It was the first human species to spread widely beyond Africa into Asia, and it made more advanced Acheulean handaxes.

Why it matters

Homo erectus was a long-lived, wide-ranging pioneer — the first of our relatives to become a truly global species.

Sources

• Smithsonian Human Origins Program. Homo erectus · Reputable source