Read and study the following passage about Homo Erectus. Then go to the Quia game links and play first the vocabulary game then the review game. Take the Quia Quiz. When you have successfully answered all the questions in the games and quiz, you will enter the Inspiration site and complete/study the outline for Homo Erectus. The outline will become your "notes" for the final test. As we progress through this unit, you will complete more and more of the Inspiration outlines yourselves.
HOMO ERECTUS
Once again the environment was changing. A new species of hominid evolved, better suited to this new habitat. He was called Homo Erectus or "Upright Man". Homo means man and erectus means upright. He was called this because he stood straighter than the previous hominid species Homo Habilis.
Homo Erectus began as the others, on the continent of Africa. Unlike the earlier species he was able to migrate (move away from) Africa and into Europe, Asia and even the island of Java. Like Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus led a nomadic lifestyle, wandering from place to place in search of food. They made weapons with which to hunt game. Bolas were three stones attached to long cords which when thrown would wrap around the animals legs bringing them to the ground where they could be overcome and killed. Simple Wood Spears enabled them to bring down small game. Their tools were more sophisticated than Homo Habilis. They made sharper stone knives with which to cut the meat from bones. They had no larynx or ability to speak but it is thought they made grunting noises and gestures for communication. This communication helped them organize group hunts.
In appearance they were taller and more erect than Homo Habilis. They had a larger brain and thus were more intelligent. Their biggest achievement was the discovery and control of fire. With fire they could cook their food. Over time this eating of soft, cooked foods caused their jaws and teeth to become smaller. No longer did they need such powerful tools to chew. Fire had many other advantages. It protected them from predators at night. It allowed them leisure time when it was night and too dangerous to travel away from the fire. During this time they could share ideas and be creative. Fire also enabled Homo Erectus to migrate out of the hot climes of Africa and into the colder areas of Europe and Asia.
We know they existed in all these places because of fossil finds. A skullcap and teeth of an Homo Erectus was found on the island of Java in Indonesia. He was nicknamed "Java Man". "Peking Man" was a family group of fossils found in a cave near Peking, China. "Turkana Boy" was a partial skeleton found near Lake Turkana in Africa.
