The tools and capabilities of the H. erectus were amazing for their time. They exploited fire to cook meat. For example, a scientific study suggests H. erectus may have used fire to cook food as early as 1.9 million years ago. Fire also provided warmth in cold times, and helped with traveling at night by giving light. But probably the biggest help from fire was to keep away dangerous predators (e.g. hyenas, tigers, pumas, ect.).

They also invented the handaxe, which is another reason predators kept away (it is still pretty amazing because the had the brain size of a 1-year-old!).

Their robust bones made them well suited for their physically-demanding life. They still were slender, and their narrow hips made them faster than any hominids before them.

Scientists think that they used their vocal cords to grunt, but did not have real speech. It is also believed that they exploited their body more than their ability to make sounds, and because of that it is thought that they used gestures.

H. erectus had a similar diet to that of early modern humans, with one dead specimen found in China, with large amounts of meat and plant foods at his side

hoopermuseum.earthsci.carleton.ca/emily/nineth.html

planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl/biodiversity/loe/page_314.htm

http://www.livescience.com/41048-facts-about-homo-erectus.html

http://www.livescience.com/26637-ancient-handaxes-discovered.html

http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21664059-staggering-trove-bones-will-shake-up-notions-how-humans-came-be-ecce

how did their capabilities improve their lives