The species of humans that followed Homo habilis and preceded Homo sapiens in our line of evolution. Homo erectus evolved in East Africa by 1. 8 million years ago. They were the first humans to expand their range into Asia and Europe. By at least 400,000 years ago or even earlier in some areas, they were beginning a transitional evolutionary phase that would eventually lead to archaic humans. See Homo ergaster and Homo heidelbergensis.