Human Migration Patterns: From Africa to Global Settlement
Human Origins and Global Dispersal
Through the use of scientific methods such as paleontology, archaeology, and genetics, Africa has been established as the cradle of humankind. Through evolution, humans were able to venture outside Africa. The discovery of fire by Homo erectus revolutionized hominid life, enabling human beings to venture into cold areas outside the warm continent of Africa.
Early Hominid Migrations
Around 1.5 million years ago, hominids began to spread out of Africa (Tignor, 2010). The very first destination for hominids outside Africa was Southwest Asia. Later, hominid populations moved to other areas of Asia along the Indian Ocean shoreline, reaching South Asia and China. Fossilized remains of Homo erectus have been found as far as Java in Indonesia. However, those Homo erectus that migrated out of Africa are not the direct ancestors of modern humans.
The Emergence of Homo Sapiens
Modern human beings are the direct descendants of Homo sapiens. This hominid evolved entirely in Africa and migrated from Africa about 200,000 years ago. The migration of Homo sapiens is thought to have been caused by changes in the general environment, especially the climate. Due to these changes, hominids evolved from large beings of brute strength to smaller, highly responsive, and highly adaptive beings. This enabled them to move efficiently and with great speed over long distances (Tignor, 2010).
Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons in Europe
The Neanderthal was the first hominid inhabitant of Europe. Neanderthals are projected to have moved out of Africa 600,000 years ago through the Arabian Peninsula. This hominid is thought to have moved out of Africa in search of animals to hunt. Eventually, Cro-Magnons replaced Neanderthals in Europe.
From Hunter-Gatherers to Settled Communities
Until about 12,000 years ago, early modern humans lived in hunter-gatherer communities. The practice of hunting and gathering was primarily for survival. Big game, as well as smaller animals, were hunted. Gathered commodities by early humans included:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Roots
- Tubers
As humans moved out of Africa, they continued to evolve due to changes in climate and environment.
The Agricultural Revolution and Domestication
Around 9000 BC in Mesopotamia, humans began to domesticate plants. Barley and wheat were the very first domesticated plants, as they were widely available in this region. The art of domestication then spread globally through migration. Stable essential food supplies eased the process of human migration across the globe (Tignor, 2010).
Domestication of animals also facilitated human migration to other parts of the world. As humans were now able to settle down, migration patterns became more deliberate than spontaneous. The spread of domestication culture was quite rapid; between 5000-4000 BC in Europe, most areas around large plains and rivers had domesticated crops and animals.
Global Expansion and Diverse Lifestyles
Migration into the Americas took place through the Bering Strait and continued southwards. The most notable civilization in America was the Mayan civilization, which spread from southern North America to the northern part of South America. Maize cultivation in Maya enhanced its expansion.
Pastoralist Communities
However, not everyone shifted to the domestication of plants and animals. Pastoralist communities also existed, with most originating in Afro-Eurasia. Transhumant herders and nomads adapted better to major climate changes and sometimes raided settled communities for food crops. Major transhumant nomadic and pastoralist groups included those associated with regions like Shang China, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. These groups would move over long distances in search of food and water for themselves and their animals (Tignor, 2010).