Migration from Africa Timeline

  • 159,999 BCE

    160,000 BCE

  • 150,000 BCE

    150,000 B.C.E.

    Humans in Africa began to migrate south and west because of changing global climate changes. Africa became more dry as glaciers advanced and life became a challenge in the hot and humid land. As humans migrated south they found natural caves that provided a safe haven from harsh weather conditions.
  • 130,000 BCE

    130,000 B.C.E.

    Global temperatures continued to rise which caused glaciers in Africa to melt making living conditions easier Deserts that we're once humid and dry became wet as the climate continued to fluctuate.
  • 115,000 BCE

    115000 B.C.E.

    After tens of thousands of years with dry climate, humans finally experienced a period of consistent favorable climate. This lead to the first big migration out of Africa. They moved north to the middle east but no further.
  • 90,000 BCE

    90,000 B.C.E.

    DNA evidence found that humans were on the edge of extinction, with an estimated 10,000 mating pairs; Once again, Africa experienced a drought which brought on advancing glaciers that forced humans into small defined groups living on the edge of survival.
  • 70,000 BCE

    70,000 B.C.E.

    After the catastrophic drought ended, the few surviving humans reunited and started a second migration out of Africa. Low sea levels and survivable climate made it possible for humans to travel on land bridges across the Arabian Peninsula and further into the middle east.
  • 60,000 BCE

    60,000 B.C.E.

    Humans evolved in tropical climates, so when the warmer adapted humans faced the northern cold climate, the migration turned south. They avoided the cold climate of Europe and traveled south towards India and Southeast Asia,
  • 50,000 BCE

    50,000 B.C.E.

    At this time, humans began to split up. One group was able to migrate to Indonesia and areas around due to glaciers converting to ice and water that created more land bridges. Fossils were also found in east and southeast Asia where another group migrated.
  • 40,000 BCE

    40,000 B.C.E.

    Once before migration into Europe was not possible due to cold climate but retreating glaciers made it possible. Neanderthals once before survived and adapted to very cold climate before our species arrived. Fossils suggest that modern humans met with Neanderthals and interbred,