Knowledge of ancestral species and of the places in which humans evolved provides context for an understanding of human genetic and evolutionary relationships with other species. Knowing how early humans survived and how they used available resources offers insight into human instinct and behavior. Readers are treated to a general overview of evolution, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, and an introduction to the relevant fossil record. They will also consider the likely beginnings of human evolution, the fossil evidence, relevant theories and refinements in human traits and culture, and the emergence of Homo sapiens as a modern species.