2006-07-20 06:24:35 · 9 answers · asked by ? 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Don't believe everything you read.
2006-07-20 06:51:50 · answer #1 · answered by Scott M 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Man originated from earlier primates in eastern Africa. The big step in their evolution is the drying of eastern Africa about 4 million years ago. When the jungles died and separated, what would become man developed a locking knee joint. This enabled them to walk much farther (and endurance run) to cover more ground and obtain more resources, putting them at a distinct advantage to other primates. If you don't believe me, try walking around without locking your knee, it's hard and taxing.
This adaptation allowed for the development of many other things that we've come to love: our large heads and brains (when we were strictly bipedal, we free up our hands for projects, and this favors big brains), short rib cage (for flexibility), and big butts (something has to give you balance when you don't have a tail).
This climate change occurred when New Guinea moved in the way of a prominent current that brought warm, moist water to east Africa. Over time, these newly smart, adapted primates radiated out of Africa and to the rest of the world. See links below for more info.
The age of man would depend on your interpretation of 'man'. The oldest Homo Sapiens are about 195,000, found by some friends of mine (see third link). Go Utes!
2006-07-20 06:28:14 · answer #2 · answered by QFL 24-7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think of activity of the earth as 24 hours. While simple bacteria or no/little life has been around for 12 hours. Simple living things (jellyfish, jellyfish, etc) about 6 hours and dinosaurs for around 6 hours. Then humans have been around for 1 second so far.
2006-07-20 12:55:04 · answer #3 · answered by Amy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Man as you know him today with creativity, thought, and memory? only about 40,000 years ago.
Man as a class of animal only about 2 million years ago.
Now to put that in perspective when the Dinosaurs were wiped out 65 million years ago, that closed the door on the their 128 Million year rule.
2006-07-20 06:51:57 · answer #4 · answered by boter_99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, upright human-like creatures have been around for about 3 million years (depending on how far you feel comfortable stretching the term "human-like"). Members of our specific species have only been around for about 100 to 150 thousand years. (We evolved pretty much during the Ice Age).
2006-07-20 06:32:51 · answer #5 · answered by stevenB 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I saw a TV program about this once, and here's how they explained it:
If the earth was a calender, humans have only been around since late December. I'm not exactly sure how long that would be... but, you can be for certain that man hasn't been around for too long! :)
2006-07-20 06:30:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Homo Sapiens ( Modern Man ) came on the scene
around 225,000 years ago...Give or take a few minutes...
2006-07-20 11:42:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well THIS huMan is only 40yrs old.
WHO CARES? You're going to believe what you believe regardless of what anyone else tells you anyway.
2006-07-20 06:28:35 · answer #8 · answered by DEATH 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
100,000 years
2006-07-20 06:28:09 · answer #9 · answered by The Man 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋