Introduction
Who invented walking
When you think about it, walking is pretty impressive. It’s a complex motion that we take for granted, but our bodies are able to perform it with ease. The question is: how did we get so good at walking? Was there some evolutionary advantage to standing on two legs, or was this an accident of evolution? Before we dive into the history of human bipedalism, let’s take a look at what creatures evolved from and how scientists know this information about them.
The oldest known fossils of bipedal animals, or animals who walk on two legs, date back to 8 million years ago
The oldest known fossils of bipedal animals, or animals who walk on two legs, dating back to 8 million years ago. This was a time when the Earth’s climate underwent rapid change, with temperatures rising and falling by as much as 10°C (18°F) within a period of 1,000 years. During this time there were many species that evolved to walk on two legs instead of four—for example, some primates like chimpanzees and gorillas still use this mode today.
These first bipeds were not human. Instead, it’s thought that humans evolved from a much more ancient quadruped species, in the same way, that whales are believed to have evolved from land-dwelling quadrupeds
These first bipeds were not human. Instead, it’s thought that humans evolved from a much more ancient quadruped species, in the same way, that whales are believed to have evolved from land-dwelling quadrupeds.
It’s widely accepted that our earliest ancestors had four legs and walked on all fours like other mammals. However, as time went on we developed two legs and began walking upright a major change for our species’ lifestyle and anatomy. But we weren’t the only ones to make this transition; some of our closest relatives made the switch too! There are several different types of apes that walk on two legs, including gorillas and orangutans—both of which are closely related to humans!
WHEN AND HOW WAS WALKING INVENTED? Who invented walking
Humans are bipedal, meaning we walk on two legs. This is an unusual trait for an animal because it’s highly inefficient: if you’re going to use your muscles to stand up (which you do), then why not just use them for walking? The reason for this evolutionary development is that humans are also very intelligent. Because of our intelligence and our ability to communicate via speech or writing, we can carry things around with us as we travel—and therefore don’t need the large bodies of other animals that would make moving around much easier in their natural environment.
From a purely physical standpoint, bipedalism may have evolved as a way to escape danger more easily by running away from predators from all four sides (instead of just one), though this theory has been criticized because it fails to account for the fact that many animals run faster than humans even when they’re standing upright. Also, note that many of these animals run very fast on two legs only when escaping predators; otherwise they tend to walk on all fours like any other quadrupedal species or stand upright like us!
Walking itself has been around since at least 4 million years ago when Australopithecus afarensis walked out onto dry land after living exclusively underwater until then!
There are a number of advantages to the bipedal flow walking allows you to carry things, escape from danger and observe the landscape around you from a higher vantage point
There are a number of advantages to the bipedal flow — walking allows you to carry things, escape from danger and observe the landscape around you from a higher vantage point. In fact, there’s only one downside: It can be hard on your legs.
But don’t despair! A few simple tweaks can help ease the pain while maintaining all the benefits of bipedal movement. Try these tips next time you’re out for a hike:
- Use your arms as much as possible. When carrying heavy items like groceries or bags of feed, use your free hand to carry items whenever possible so that your load is distributed across both sides of your body. This will help keep any pain in one leg at bay.* Walk with purpose; don’t just wander aimlessly around town! Be mindful about where you’re going so that if there’s ever an emergency situation (like getting lost), it’ll be easier for someone else who finds themself in need of assistance.* Take breaks every now and then! The best way for making sure our bodies stay healthy over time is by giving them regular rest periods after exertion.
Early bipeds may have invented walking as an energy-efficient way to cover terrain quickly and spot danger quickly
Early humans evolved from a tree-dwelling, four-legged species. Bipedalism (meaning walking on two legs) was probably an energy-efficient way for early humans to cover ground quickly and spot danger more easily. As bipeds, we can carry things in our hands while we walk—a major advantage over quadrupeds like horses or cats!
Conclusion
We know that our ancestors were walking on two legs at least 8 million years ago, but how did they get the idea? We don’t know for sure. Some researchers think that early bipeds may have invented the walk as an energy-efficient way to cover terrain quickly and spot danger quickly. Others argue that humans evolved from a much more ancient quadruped species, in the same way that whales are believed to have evolved from land-dwelling quadrupeds. Whatever the case may be, it’s clear that walking has been a key part of human evolution since we first started moving around on two feet millions of years ago!
