Final answer:
Homo erectus evolved in East Africa around 1.9 million years ago, migrating out of Africa and reaching other parts of the world, with potential survival in East Asia until about 300,000 years ago. They were anatomically similar to modern humans and were ancestors to Homo heidelbergensis, Neanderthals, and Homo sapiens.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homo erectus evolved in East Africa and spread to the rest of the Old World about 1.9 million years ago. This species was significant for being the first to migrate out of Africa, reaching as far as Java, Indonesia, and possibly surviving in some areas of East Asia until about 300,000 years ago. They exhibited traits such as an uninterrupted bar of bone above the eyes, brain sizes between 1,000 and 1,200 cubic centimeters, and a stature similar to modern humans ranging from 150 to 180 centimeters tall.
Over time, Homo erectus populations evolved to adapt to different environmental conditions they encountered during their migrations, leading to a diversity of human species including Homo heidelbergensis, Neanderthals, and modern humans. Homo heidelbergensis is considered to be a transitional species that probably evolved from Homo erectus and then into Homo neanderthalensis and early Homo sapiens approximately 200,000 years ago.