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Humans evolved from a line of hominins that diverged from the apes around 7-5 million years ago. Modern humans, Homo sapiens, originated in Africa within the past 200,000 years and are thought to have evolved from Homo erectus, meaning "upright man". They then migrated out of Africa and dispersed across the globe. Elaboration: Shared Ancestry: Humans are closely related to apes, particularly chimpanzees, gorillas, and bonobos, with a common ancestor believed to have lived between 8 and 6 million years ago. African Origin: The fossil record and genetic evidence strongly suggest that human evolution began in Africa, with early humans, like Ardipithecus and Homo habilis, emerging on that continent. Migration and Dispersion: Early humans migrated out of Africa, with some populations reaching Asia between 2 million and 1.8 million years ago and entering Europe later, between 1.5 million and 1 million years ago. Behavioral Modernity: The emergence of behavioral modernity, characterized by complex symbolic thought, language, and culture, occurred relatively recently, between 160,000 and 60,000 years ago. The Neolithic Revolution: The shift from nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled agricultural communities, known as the Neolithic Revolution, began around 13,000 years ago and marked a significant turning point in human history. Population Growth and Civilization: Agriculture and permanent settlements led to population growth, urbanization, and the development of various civilizations.