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Who was the first human?
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The question of the "first human" is complex and doesn't have a simple answer accepted by everyone. Here's a breakdown:
- Religious/Mythological Perspectives: Many religions and mythologies have their own creation stories detailing the first humans. For example, in Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), Adam and Eve are considered the first humans.
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Scientific Perspective: From a scientific standpoint, human evolution is a gradual process. There wasn't a single "first" human, but rather a transition from earlier hominin species to Homo sapiens. Key points:
- Hominin Evolution: The human lineage (Hominini) diverged from chimpanzees (Panini) around 6-8 million years ago.
- Genus Homo: The genus Homo emerged about 3 million years ago.
- Homo sapiens: Homo sapiens (modern humans) appeared around 300,000 years ago in Africa. The oldest known fossils of Homo sapiens were found in Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, dating back approximately 300,000 years. Source
- Defining "Human": Defining the exact moment when our ancestors became "human" is challenging. It involves considering anatomical changes (brain size, bipedalism), behavioral traits (tool use, social structures), and genetic factors.
Therefore, from a scientific view, there isn't one definitive "first human." It's more accurate to speak of the gradual evolution of hominins leading to the emergence of Homo sapiens.