Final answer:
Hominins first appeared in the late Miocene, around 10 to 5 MYA, and became clearly bipedal during the Pliocene epoch. The genus Homo first appeared around 2.5 to 3 MYA, with Homo sapiens emerging around 200,000 years ago.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Did Hominins Appear?
The first hominins appeared in the late Miocene, around 10 to 5 million years ago (MYA). During this time, they began to move out of trees and adapt to terrestrial life, although the fossil record from then is sparse. In the subsequent Pliocene epoch, between 5 MYA to 1.8 MYA, the fossil evidence shows that hominins were definitively bipedal and displayed basic cultural behaviors.
Early Hominins: Genus Homo
The genus Homo, to which modern humans belong, first appeared approximately 2.5 to 3 million years ago. The species H. habilis and the potentially older Homo gautengensis are significant early members of this genus. Homo sapiens, our species with recognizable physical traits, have been around for around 200,000 years.
Neolithic Period and Hominin Evolution
By the Neolithic period, or the Agricultural Age (around 8,000 to 3,000 BCE), Homo sapiens had established permanent settlements and began farming. The transition to bipedalism is an important characteristic shared by both australopithecines and the Homo genus, signifying a major shift in hominin evolution.
Hominin Migrations
Hominins, starting as hunter-gatherers, migrated within Africa and later into Asia and Europe, with Homo erectus marking a significant increase in environmental control and adaptability. This laid the groundwork for the eventual migration of early humans into almost every corner of the globe.