The timing of the first human migrations depends on the definition of “human”. Homo habilis evolved in Africa 2.4 million years ago, followed by Homo ergaster, which may have been the first to leave Africa. The Sahara Pump Theory explains the spread of Homo from Africa. Homo erectus lived in China and Southeast Asia at least 1.7 million years ago. Modern human migrations began about 70,000 years ago with Homo sapiens. Human migrations continue to this day, including the colonization of new territories such as Antarctica and space.
When the first human migrations occurred depends on your definition of the word “human”, which, sadly, is not pinned down, in dictionaries or elsewhere. “Human” has at least two meanings: any member of the genus Homo, including Homo erectus, Homo habilis, et al, or only members of the species Homo sapiens.
The first members of the genus Homo, represented by Homo habilis (“man of all trades”) evolved in Africa 2.4 million years ago (not 2.0 million years ago as commonly claimed). The main habitat of Homo habilis was southern and eastern Africa. About 1.9 million years ago, a larger-brained and more resourceful human species, Homo ergaster (“working man”), evolved in Africa. It is believed that Homo ergaster may have been one of the first members of the genus Homo to cross the Sinai Peninsula into the Middle East and Far East and into the borders of Europe. Soon after leaving Africa, H. ergaster likely evolved into Homo erectus, and H. erectus is often called the first member of the genus Homo to leave Africa accordingly. Some scientists consider H. ergaster and H. erectus to be members of the same species.
The spread of Homo from Africa is partially explained by an idea called the Sahara Pump Theory. According to geological evidence, around 2.0 million years ago, the Sahara was a wetter place and flora and fauna were common. It was not a virtually uninhabitable desert as it is today. This would have given an incentive for human migrations to move north, eventually crossing the Sinai Peninsula into the Levant.
Homo erectus lived in China and Southeast Asia at least 1.7 million years ago, based on stone tool finds. Most scientists do not believe that H. erectus had the ability to build rafts and navigate the oceans, so its migratory patterns are limited to land travel only. Other homonids, such as H. antecessor, other members of Homo that could be called cousins of H. erectus, arrived in Europe between 0.9 and 1.2 million years ago, where their fossils have been found in Spain and Italy.
Modern human migrations began about 70,000 years ago when Homo sapiens roamed the Levant and modern-day Yemen. Europe was settled 50,000 years ago, Australia 40,000 years ago, and East Asia 30,000 years ago. The colonization of Australia is notable because Homo erectus were unable to cross the sea to reach it. Humans arrived in the Americas via the Bering land bridge, but the exact date is disputed: it could have been 30,000 years ago, or as little as 14,000 years ago.
Human migrations have continued to this day. Polynesia is one of the last historically settled areas, with most of it reached just 3,000 years ago. New Zealand was only settled 1,000 years ago. The first Antarctic base, “Little America” based on the Ross Ice Shelf, was founded only in 1929. Further human migrations can consist of the colonization of ice caps, oceans, low Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond.
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