However, Charles Darwin is widely credited with providing the foundational framework for our understanding of evolution, including the concept of common descent. His book, "On the Origin of Species" (1859), outlined the theory of natural selection and provided evidence suggesting that all living organisms, including humans, share a common ancestor.
While Darwin didn't explicitly state that humans evolved from apes, his work strongly implied it, laying the groundwork for future research.
Other key figures in the understanding of human evolution:
* Thomas Huxley: Known as "Darwin's Bulldog," Huxley was a strong advocate for Darwin's ideas and provided significant evidence for human evolution, notably through his comparative anatomical studies.
* Ernst Haeckel: Haeckel was a German biologist who further developed the concept of human evolution, proposing a "tree of life" to illustrate the relationship between different species.
* Raymond Dart: Dart discovered the first Australopithecus africanus skull in 1924, providing crucial fossil evidence for human evolution in Africa.
* Louis Leakey: Leakey and his team made numerous significant fossil discoveries in Africa, including Homo habilis, further solidifying the link between humans and ape ancestors.
The understanding of human evolution continues to evolve with new discoveries and advancements in technology, but Darwin's work remains a crucial foundation for the theory. It's important to remember that the concept of human evolution from ape ancestors is not a belief, but a scientifically supported theory based on overwhelming evidence.