Homo Sapiens Map

Route 9 Australia to South América This was a complex, thousand-year journey across diverse continents, climates, and landscapes. Early humans traversed land bridges and shallow routes, adapting to tropical, temperate, and arid environments, from the Sunda Shelf to the Himalayas, and the Rocky Mountains to the Panamanian Isthmus. They relied on hunting, gathering and fishing, which led them to develop tools, navigation skills, and social structures since those would have evolved, potentially becoming more complex as populations grew and resources became more diverse.

Where it all began... Homo sapiens originated in Africa around 300,000 years ago, with early fossils found in Ethiopia, South Africa, and Morocco. As the population grew and climate changed, groups began to migrate out of Africa around 60,000-70,000 years ago in search of food, resources, safety, and security. Some were driven by conflict, climate shifts, or curiosity, while others followed coastal routes to exploit marine resources and adapt to new environments. From Africa, they spread to the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and eventually the Americas, marking the beginning of human migration and the colonization of new lands.

Early Australians encountered a wide range of environments, including deserts, rainforests, and coastal areas. They adapted to these diverse conditions by developing specialized tools and survival strategies such as ground-edge axes and fish traps, to exploit the varied resources available in their environment.

Homo sapiens are believed to have arrived in Australia between 65,000 and 50,000 years ago. This migration likely occurred via land bridges and short sea crossings from Southeast Asia during periods of lower sea levels. The most plausible route involved traveling from the Sunda Shelf (modern-day Indonesia) to the Sahul Shelf (which included Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania).

Australia

Route 3

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• Migration from East Asia: Early humans moved from East Asia, including China, to Siberia around 40,000 to 30,000 years ago, driven by the search for food and changing climates.
• Crossing Beringia: During the last Ice Age, lower sea levels exposed the Beringia land bridge, allowing humans to cross from Siberia to North America around 20,000 to 10,000 years ago, following animal herds for resources.
• Spread into the Americas: After spending time in Beringia, these populations moved south as the Ice Age ended, eventually spreading across North and South America, adapting to various environments.

Route 5

Asia

As early humans moved from Africa to Europe, they relied on hunting, gathering, and simple tools, living a nomadic lifestyle and using natural shelters for survival.

• Food: Early humans hunted animals like deer and bison, gathered plants, fruits, and nuts, and scavenged when necessary.
• Clothing: Made from animal skins, their clothing was basic and provided warmth and protection.
• Shelter: They used caves and rock overhangs as natural shelters, or built temporary structures with branches and hides.
• Tools: Stone tools (flint, obsidian) were used for hunting and gathering, with simple weapons like spears and clubs.
• Nomadic lifestyle: They lived in small groups, moving with animal herds and seasonal plants.

Africa to Europe

Route 4

They found abundant resources, including megafauna, wild game, fruits, nuts, and berries, as well as timber and stone for tools. They developed stone tools, controlled fire, built shelters, created clothing and textiles, and honed hunting strategies, including spear-throwing technology. Later, around 10,000 years ago, they developed more sophisticated tools like the bow and arrow, fishhooks, and pottery, and began to domesticate plants like maize, beans, and squash, leading to the establishment of settlements, trade networks, and increased social complexity.

This migration route was made through the Bering Strait (geological formation that separates Siberia) because due to the decrease in sea level and the freezing of the strait, a natural bridge was formed that connected the two continents, through which several nomadic tribes would have crossed.

North America

Route 6

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Modern humans (Homo sapiens) migrated from Africa to other continents between 70,000 and 50,000 years ago, passing through the region that is now Saudi Arabia.

• Favorable climate: At that time, Saudi Arabia had a more humid and fertile climate with lakes and rivers, making it easier for humans to live and travel.
• Strategic route: Saudi Arabia is in a key position between Africa, Asia, and Europe. Humans likely crossed from Africa through the Red Sea when sea levels were lower.
• Search for resources and adaptation: Humans migrated in search of water, food, and less populated areas. Their ability to adapt to different environments allowed them to settle in new regions.

Route 2

Saudi Arabia

The migration from East Asia to the Americas during the last Ice Age was a key moment in human history.

• Food: The South American nomads mainly relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering wild plants, depending on the ecosystem they lived in.
• Clothing: They used animal skins in colder climates and plant fibers in warmer regions, adapting their clothing to the environment.
• Shelters and Tools: They built temporary shelters that were easy to move and used stone and bone tools for hunting and processing food.
• Nomadic Lifestyle: These were mobile peoples, constantly moving in search of resources, with a deep knowledge of nature.

South America

Route 7

• Exit Africa: Homo sapiens began leaving Africa between 60,000 and 70,000 years ago.
• South Asia: They moved through the Middle East and reached the Indus Valley, covering parts of present-day Pakistan and northwestern India.
• Through Asia: From South Asia, they continued eastward along the coasts of Southeast Asia.
• Arrival in Australia: By about 50,000 years ago, they crossed to Indonesia and then to Australia, utilizing lower sea levels and coastal routes.

These early migrants were nomadic hunter-gatherers who adapted to various environments and relied on coastal resources like fish and seafood, using stone tools and living in small, socially organized groups.

Route 8

To Australia

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