The topic of this thesis is the evolutionary development in primates. Primates first appeared in the Cretaceous and the oldest known genus is Purgatorius. Their origin and evolution is correlated with the development of Angiosperma and by bettering theirs eyesight. The adaptive radiation of primates was evident during Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene. Genus Proconsul is important because of the length of his limbs, specific form on molars, and absence of a tail. They contributed to the present knowledge of evolution of Hominidae. Adapidae and Omomydae are possible ancestors of lemurs and tarsiers and apes and monkeys. A lot of extinct and possible ancestors of recent monkeys from the old and new world are described. The often climate change and change of vegetation caused replacement of primates because of different habitat or loss of food. Their whole evolutionary past is still not known and the research continues, but at the moment the loss and destruction of their habitat, and reduced number of the primate species, represents more pressing matter.