Final answer:
The first humans emerged about 1.8 million years ago and are known as Homo erectus, who later spread across Eurasia before going extinct, eventually leading up to Homo sapiens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first humans were a group called Homo erectus, which emerged some 1.8 million years ago (mya). Homo erectus was an early species in the genus Homo that first evolved about 1.9 million years ago in East Africa before migrating to Eurasia and eventually going extinct around 800,000 years ago. This species was likely ancestral to later hominins including Homo heidelbergensis and ultimately Homo sapiens. Homo erectus is known for its upright stance and adaptation to varied environments, allowing the species to spread from Africa to various parts of Eurasia.
Fossil evidence, such as the well-known Peking Man, supports the presence of Homo erectus in regions like China over a million years ago. As humanity evolved, species like the Neanderthals and Denisovans appeared, which are often considered "cousins" of modern humans. Nevertheless, the species Homo sapiens, emerging around 300,000 years ago, are our own direct ancestors and exhibit biological characteristics identical to present-day humans.