Modern humans (Homo sapiens or Homo sapiens sapiens) are the only extant

members of the hominin clade, a branch of great apes characterized by erect

posture and bipedal locomotion; manual dexterity and increased tool use; and a
general trend toward larger, more complex brains and societies.[3][4] Early
hominids, such as the australopithecines whose brains and anatomy are in many
ways more similar to non-human apes, are less often thought of or referred to
as "human" than hominids of the genus Homo,[5] some of whom used fire,
occupied much of Eurasia, and gave rise to [6][7] anatomically modern Homo
sapiens in Africa about 200,000 years ago where they began to exhibit evidence
of behavioral modernity around 50,000 years ago and migrated out in successive
waves to occupy[8] all but the smallest, driest, and coldest lands. In the
last 100 years, this has extended to permanently manned bases in Antarctica,
on offshore platforms, and orbiting the Earth. The spread of humans and their
large and increasing population has had a destructive impact on large areas of
the environment and millions of native species worldwide. Advantages that
explain this evolutionary success include a relatively larger brain with a
particularly well-developed neocortex, prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes,
which enable high levels of abstract reasoning, language, problem solving,
sociality, and culture through social learning. Humans use tools to a much
higher degree than any other animal, are the only extant species known to
build fires and cook their food, as well as the only extant species to clothe
themselves and create and use numerous other technologies and arts.

Humans are uniquely adept at utilizing systems of symbolic communication such

as language and art for self-expression, the exchange of ideas, and
organization. Humans create complex social structures composed of many
cooperating and competing groups, from families and kinship networks to
states. Social interactions between humans have established an extremely wide
variety of values,[9] social norms, and rituals, which together form the basis
of human society. The human desire to understand and influence their
environment, and explain and manipulate phenomena, has been the foundation for
the development of science, philosophy, mythology, and religion. The
scientific study of humans is the discipline of anthropology.

Humans began to practice sedentary agriculture about 12,000 years ago,

domesticating plants and animals, thus allowing for the growth of
civilization. Humans subsequently established various forms of government,
religion, and culture around the world, unifying people within a region and
leading to the development of states and empires. The rapid advancement of
scientific and medical understanding in the 19th and 20th centuries led to the
development of fuel-driven technologies and improved health, causing the human
population to rise exponentially. By 2014 the global human population was
estimated to be around 7.2 billion.[10][11]