Human Migration of Homo Sapiens 120,000 BCE–10,000 BCE

According to recent research, Homo sapiens began leaving Africa c. 120,000 BCE. This is the first wave of migrations, followed by second and third waves c. 75,000 years and 10,000 years ago. Migration is believed to have started in the southern Sahara, with bands of early humans crossing land bridges into the Middle East in search of food and better living habitats. The theory is that early Homo sapiens were hunter-gatherers who were naturally nomadic. Some groups migrated within Africa, while others slowly fanned out from the Middle East into Europe and Asia. The first humans are thought to have entered Europe c. 35,000 BC. Others crossed the Bering land bridge, an isthmus connecting Asia to North America c. 25,000 BC, followed by migration to South America. Further migrations were in c. 45,000 BC from Sumatra, Borneo and New Guinea into Australia, thought to be connected by land bridges.