Overview of the Evolution of Humans

A brief glimpse into the story of Humans

This storymap focuses on capturing a short overview of the story of Human evolution. We all know how humans look today, but what were our ancestors and their environments like?

Get to know our deep history:

Origin of Bipedal Apes

First, what constitutes bipedalism?

  • Position of the Foramen Magnum: Below the cranial cavity means the head is on top of the spine, indicating bipedalism, further back on the skull means the head is in front of the spine and therefore the species is not fully bipedal.
  • An S-Shaped Spine: This helps with balance when walking.
  • Broad/Rounded Pelvis: Helps with walking and the upright posture.
  • Long Femur with a Medial Angle: A slanted femur also helps with balance when walking or standing bipedally.
  • Platform-like Foot and Loss of Opposable Big Toe: A flatter foot without an opposable big toe makes it easier to balance when walking, albeit at the cost of ease of climbing in trees.

Key Genuses to Know