We evolved in Africa around 250,000 to 300,000 years ago. There is ample evidence that other species of the Homo genus had already travelled to different parts of the globe. Here we are concerned with the timeline of Homo sapiens and when they travelled to different parts.
300,000 years ago – evidence of Homo sapiens found in North-West Africa
190,000 years ago – migrations to central Africa
140,000 – 130,000 years ago – migrations to North East Africa
120,000 – 80,000 years ago – migrations to East Asia
120,000 years ago – migrations to South Africa
75,000 – 45,000 years ago – migrations to India
70,000 – 60,000 years ago – migrations to South East Asia
45,000 years ago – migrations to Middle East
40,000 – 30,000 years ago – migrations to Europe
45,000 years ago – migrations to Australia
35,000 years ago – migrations to Russia and Siberia
15,000 years ago – migrations to North America
15,000 – 11,000 years ago – migrations to South America
4,500 years ago – migrations to Philippines
1250 CE – New Zealand was settled
We travelled thousands of miles across the globe over land and sea to inhabit almost every corner of the globe. As we spread out, the communities would have grown within them. Coming into the last 10,000 years, agriculture took over across the globe and at different times, using local crops. This was the start of our civilisation as we know it today.
