Homo Sapiens
The Modern Human
People that live in today’s world belong to the Homo Sapiens species which mean ‘wise man’ in Latin. We are the most recently evolved from 300,000 years ago to present. Even though homo sapiens are relatively recent we have the most complex culture and technology and the ability to spread throughout the world to live on a variety of different environments.
Background Information
Homo sapiens evolved about 300,000 years ago from Homo heidelbergensis in Africa. There was a period of overlapping time when Homo heidelbergensis, archaic Homo sapiens, and modern Homo sapiens walked the earth.
Appearance
The early Homo Sapiens had bodies with short slender trunk and long limbs. These body proportions were an adaptation for surviving in warming regions so it could cool the body easier. When populations spread to cooler regions, body proportions had more of a stocky build to help retain heat. The average brain size is 1350 cubic centimeters but the early homo sapiens had slightly larger brains at 1500 centimeters. Faces are reasonably small with a projecting nose bone and teeth are relatively small compared to earlier species especially the front incisor and canine teeth. Lastly, limb bones are thinner and muscles size are smaller from earlier humans.
Evolution of Tool Use
Modern human today have evolved through a long complex process from Australopithecus afarensis to Homo erectus to eventually humanity as we know it today. A common trait they all had was the use of tools. Early modern Homo sapiens used tools in the upper Paleolithic period from about 50-10 thousand years ago. They were finely produced blades and had specialized tools for industry which was subject based on geographical location. There was also evidence of early trade networks being formed when there were tools found over 200 miles from where the materials had originated.
Lifestyle
The earliest Homo sapiens had a relatively simple culture, although it was more advanced than any previous species. Sophisticated control of fire allowed homo sapiens to survive in regions that even the cold-adapted Neanderthals had been unable to inhabit. evidence of clothing only exists for the last 30,000 years. This evidence includes specialized tools such as needles; adornments such as buttons and beads sewn onto clothing; and the remains of animals, such as arctic foxes and wolves, that indicate they were trapped for their fur. Early Homo sapiens often inhabited caves or rock but more recently, especially within the last 20,000 years, natural shelters were enhanced with walls or other simple modifications. Burials were infrequent and very simple prior to 40,000 years ago and then began to become more elaborate with the inclusion of valued objects such as tools and body adornments. All Homo sapiens were once hunter-gatherers living on wild plants and animals. It was only about 11,000 years ago that humans began to domesticate plants and animals although wild foods still remained important in the diet.
Modern Technology
We live in a very different world than our ancestors from 100 years ago, much less 200,000 years ago. With the evolution of our brain and more complex tools we have really become a species of innovation. When you think about where we started and our everyday "norms" it crazy to think about all the differences.  We now live in a world where we have have light or heat at the flick of a switch or turn of a knob. We now have indoor plumbing and the ability to shower in hot water. We have cites filled with skyscapers and bridges, boats, planes and cars. It is now possible to fly around the world in under 24 hours. We have the domestication of animals which led to there being the need for veterinarians. Then there is the medical advance