Final answer:
Human evolution featured major developments such as bipedalism, brain enlargement, tool use, and control of fire, shaped by natural selection and adaptations over millions of years.
Step-by-step explanation:
Major Physical Developments in Human Evolution
The course of human evolution has been characterized by several major physical developments. Early human ancestors, or hominins, began to walk upright (bipedalism) in the African savannas millions of years ago. This adaptation was significant for the evolution of the human genus, Homo, and eventually led to the development of modern humans, Homo sapiens.
Key developments include the enlargement of the brain, improvements in tool use, and the ability to control fire, which occurred over different stages of evolution. Specially, bipedalism emerged around 6-7 million years ago with species such as Sahelanthropus tchadensis. The genus Homo evolved approximately 2.5 million years ago, leading to a series of hominin species, with sophisticated tool use evolving with Homo habilis. Controlled use of fire is believed to have been developed by Homo erectus about 1 million years ago.
These physical changes occurred over vast spans of time, and are a testament to the power of natural selection and adaptation in shaping human evolution. Evidence, like fossil records and genetic data, supports these developments and the migration of early humans out of Africa, spreading across the globe during the Paleolithic Age.