There are fossils of many species of archaic humans that left Africa and found their way to other parts of the world. For example, Homo Erectus fossils can be found in Asia, and Neanderthal fossils can be found in Europe. We can find fossil evidence of early Homo Sapiens, like us, left Africa too. Today, DNA evidence is starting to provide further evidence that the Out of Africa theory may be correct

Today, our best theory about the first humans suggests they started in Africa and began to migrate further and further away.

Groups that hunted may have followed animal herds out of Africa.

Groups that fished may have followed the coast lines out of Africa

Hostile climate change could have forced them further from Africa.

Either way, fossils and DNA evidence show that they most likely started in Africa.

A Northern Route could have passed  through what is today called Egypt.

A Southern Route could have been taken along the coast from the Horn of Africa across the Red Sea into Asia

Over the course of thousands of years people slowly made their way from Africa to the far corners of the world.

Vocabulary

  • Migration

  • Route

  • Disperse

Important Questions

  • The Out of Africa theory suggests that early people followed herds, food sources and the coast lines out of Africa into Asia, Europe and beyond.

  • Following herds, seasonal plants, coastlines accidentally led to leaving

    Drought, climate change, other external factors that pushed them further away

  • DNA Evidence

    Archaeological and Paleontological evidence

  • Boats

    Different shaped coastlines in the past

    Ice Age lowered the ocean levels and create land bridges

  • It’s not one group or one person traveling. It is generation after generation of people slowly moving a little further than their ancestors did.