Evolution of Man: The earth is a planet in the solar system. The earth came into being about 4500 million years ago. At first, it was in the gaseous state. Gradually, over a period, it solidified and land formed. Water bodies developed on land. Algae-like plants developed in water. At about this time, unicellular micro-organisms were formed. Animals on earth evolved in stages from these unicellular micro-organisms. The process of development of the living world %u2013 from unicellular living beings to man %u2013 is known as evolution. This evolution has taken place over millions of years.
Today's man evolved in stages from ape %u2013 a monkey closely resembling man. The two main stages in this evolution are Ho-mo Ere-ctus and 'Ho-mo Sap-iens'. The word Ho-mo indicates man and Ere-ctus indicates %u2018with upright spine%u2019. Ho-mo sap-iens means the wise man. At this stage, he began to make fire and devise stone implements.
PP-14, History of Ancient India, Standard Six, published by Maharashtra State Bureau of Text Book Production and Curriculum Research, Pune (Education Department Sanction No. Pra-Shi-Sa/2007-08/manjuri 505 (9) Date: 8.1.2007
