Homo erectus came before Homo neanderthalensis. Homo erectus is thought to have evolved around 1.8-1.3 million years ago in Africa, and then spread to other parts of the world, including Asia and Europe. They are known for their control of fire, more sophisticated tools, and ability to hunt and gather in a variety of environments. Homo neanderthalensis, on the other hand, is believed to have evolved around 400,000-300,000 years ago in Europe and Asia from a population of Homo heidelbergensis, which is thought to have given rise to both Neanderthals and modern humans. Neanderthals are known for their stocky builds, prominent foreheads, and robust bones. So, there's a significant gap of around 1-1.5 million years between the emergence of Homo erectus and Homo neanderthalensis. Here's a rough timeline to help illustrate the sequence: * 1.8-1.3 million years ago: Homo erectus emerges in Africa * 1.3-500,000 years ago: Homo erectus spreads to Asia and Europe * 400,000-300,000 years ago: Homo neanderthalensis emerges in Europe and Asia from Homo heidelbergensis * 40,000-4,000 years ago: Homo neanderthalensis goes extinct, while Homo sapiens (modern humans) emerge and spread across the globe