The scientific consensus is that modern humans, Homo sapiens, evolved over approximately six million years from apelike ancestors. This lengthy evolutionary process, which primarily occurred in Africa, involved the gradual development of physical and behavioral traits that distinguish our species. The scientific consensus is that modern humans, Homo sapiens, evolved over approximately six million years from apelike ancestors. This lengthy evolutionary process, which primarily occurred in Africa, involved the gradual development of physical and behavioral traits that distinguish our species. The scientific consensus is that modern humans, Homo sapiens, evolved over approximately six million years from apelike ancestors. This lengthy evolutionary process, which primarily occurred in Africa, involved the gradual development of physical and behavioral traits that distinguish our species. The scientific consensus is that modern humans, Homo sapiens, evolved over approximately six million years from apelike ancestors. This lengthy evolutionary process, which primarily occurred in Africa, involved the gradual development of physical and behavioral traits that distinguish our species.