Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

YouTube

Human Evolution - Learning Playlist

via YouTube

Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates — All 10,000+ Courses at 40% Off
One annual plan covers every course and certificate on Coursera. 40% off for a limited time.
Get Full Access
Explore the fundamentals of human evolution through a curated playlist of over 30 video episodes spanning 5 hours and 40 minutes, covering both established science and ongoing discoveries about the development of Homo sapiens. Dive into the mechanics of evolution itself before tracing the primate family tree and examining key milestones such as bipedalism, tool use, fire taming, and the spread of humans across the globe. Investigate the lives and fates of other human species, including Neanderthals, the mysterious Denisovans, and the so-called "hobbits," while uncovering what their remains and DNA reveal about our shared humanity. Examine the origins of language, handedness, fur loss, fermentation, and even ancient healthcare practices. Tackle controversial topics like the Paleo diet, the true cradle of humankind, and the role of "junk DNA," alongside fascinating evolutionary arms races such as the ancient conflict between primates and snakes. Each episode builds a richer picture of who we are, where we came from, and what we are still learning about our place in the story of life on Earth.

Syllabus

PBS Eons: Human Evolution - Learning Playlist Trailer
How Evolution Works (And How We Figured It Out)
Your Place in the Primate Family Tree
When We First Walked
When Humans Were Prey
The Humans That Lived Before Us
When We First Made Tools
When We Tamed Fire
When We Took Over the World
When We Met Other Human Species
The Missing Link That Wasn’t
When Hobbits Were Real
The Neandertals That Taught Us About Humanity
What Happened To Primates In North America?
The Risky Paleo Diets of Our Ancestors
How We Figured Out Fermentation
How Humans Lost Their Fur
When We First Talked
How Humans Became (Mostly) Right-Handed
Why The Paleo Diet Couldn't Save The Neanderthals
When Neandertals Became Apex Predators
There's No Single Cradle of Humankind
How Long Have We Been Caring For Each Other?
Our Most Mysterious Extinct Cousins
When Did We Stop Being Naked?
Our “Junk DNA” Is More Important Than We Once Thought
The Neandertal Burial That Taught Us About Humanity
When Ancient People Changed Their Own DNA
How Did Our Most Famous Ancestor Really Die?
There’s Something Weird About Neandertal DNA And It Might Be Our Fault
The Ancient Human Species With A Missing Body
Primates vs Snakes (An Evolutionary Arms Race)

Reviews

Start your review of Human Evolution - Learning Playlist

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.