Homo sapiens sapiens

You must have heard that we humans are descendants of the apes, are not we? But is this really true? In this article we will better understand the denomination of homo sapiens sapiens, but rather we will travel in time and try to understand all this evolution that involves the ancestors of human beings.

The evolution of homo species

If we compare humans with other species of animals on the globe, we can see that men are relatively new on the planet. This is because archaeological and paleontological studies - studies done with fossils - show that all living beings have undergone a process of natural selection, in which only those most adaptable to the transformations of nature and the environment could survive and leave heirs of their characteristics. So it was with modern man or, scientifically speaking, homo sapiens sapiens.

Today humans have some close relatives still alive, gorillas and chimpanzees. However, humans did not evolve from these monkeys. What occurs, however, is that modern men share with these primates a common ancestor. To better understand the evolution of our species, we must know the previous ones, such as the australopithecos, homo habilis, homo ergaster and homo erectus, homo neanderthalensis and, lastly, homo sapiens, the last generation before homo sapiens sapiens.

The Australopithecus fossils were found in Africa, where they lived about three million years ago. They were bipeds, lived in caves and could only handle rustic instruments. Homo habilis differs from the former because it possesses a skill with sharp instruments, and from then on it has a carnivorous diet.

Homo ergaster and homo erectus populated not only Africa but also Asia, and thus had the characteristic nomads. As these were locomoviam it was possible to adopt a more upright posture. In addition, they hunted more skillfully and built their own homes. The great achievement of this species was the domination of fire.

Homo neanderthalensis has such a nomenclature because its fossils were found in the city of Neander, Germany. As a result, they have inhabited good parts of Europe and also of Asia. It is believed that this species was exterminated by homo sapiens, which, in turn, is what most resembles modern man. He already communicated with spoken language and were also skillful hunters of large animals.

Finally, homo sapiens sapiens arose 40,000 years ago, which by their highly developed abilities could better master nature and thus adapt it to their way of life. This text deepens, precisely, in this species. Let's see next.

The incredible homo sapiens sapiens

Homo sapiens sapiens is actually a subspecies of homo sapiens. In addition, it belongs to the kingdom animalia, of the filo chordata and subfilo vertebrata. It is of the class mammalia, of order primate and suborder antropoidea. Its superfamily is the hominoidea and the hominidea family, being of the genus homo. The meaning of the name given to this subspecies is "man who knows what he knows", which refers to the main characteristics of these beings: thought.

The other species lived from hunting and were unified into small nomadic groups. One difference between these and the present man is that the latter has learned to produce his own food, thus arising agriculture and societies. Therefore, they are seen as hunters as well as farmers. And along with this practice other forms of life appear and relate to society.

Characteristics of modern man

Members of this subspecies have a highly developed brain compared to their ancestors. With this, the ability to reason, language, introspection, and problem solving is advanced. By having a completely erect body, the possibility of using the arms and hands to manipulate the objects were developed, which allowed the medium to adapt the wants and desires of the man.

Self-consciousness, rationality and wisdom differ the homo sapiens sapiens not only from their ancestors but from all living beings that inhabit the planet earth. Human society was built and today we can use various communication systems, such as verbal, gestural and written, being possible to brainstorm, the forms of expression and even a better way to organize the social.

From this new species, humans have been able to create groups that cooperate and are also competitors, like the families and even nations. Society has also created a series of traditions to be worshiped from generation to generation through what we know today as culture. They are social and ethical values, beauty and aesthetics, the creation of art, music and literature, religions, sciences and mythology, all these spheres make up the life of a modern man, who although already on the earth for about 40 thousand years.