## The First Hominin to Travel Out of Africa
The first hominins to travel out of Africa were members of the species Homo erectus. H. erectus evolved in Africa around 1.9 million years ago and began dispersing to other parts of the world around 1.8 million years ago. The first H. erectus fossils outside of Africa have been found in the Caucasus Mountains, in Eurasia, and date to around 1.8 million years ago.
H. erectus was a successful hominin species that adapted to a wide range of habitats, from the savannas of Africa to the forests of Asia. They were also the first hominins to use fire and make stone tools.
The dispersal of H. erectus out of Africa was a major event in human evolution. It allowed humans to colonize new territories and adapt to new environments. It also set the stage for the eventual evolution of modern humans.
### The Causes of the Dispersal
There are a number of factors that may have contributed to the dispersal of H. erectus out of Africa. One possibility is that they were following their prey animals, which were migrating to new areas. Another possibility is that they were seeking new sources of food and resources. It is also possible that they were simply following the path of least resistance, moving into new territories as they became available.
### The Routes of Dispersal
H. erectus dispersed out of Africa along a number of different routes. One route was through the Middle East, into Asia. Another route was through the Strait of Gibraltar, into Europe. A third route was through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, into the Arabian Peninsula.
### The Impact of the Dispersal
The dispersal of H. erectus out of Africa had a number of significant impacts. It allowed humans to colonize new territories and adapt to new environments. It also set the stage for the eventual evolution of modern humans.
In addition, the dispersal of H. erectus may have contributed to the extinction of other hominin species, such as Homo neanderthalensis. H. neanderthalensis was a successful hominin species that lived in Europe and Asia for hundreds of thousands of years. However, they eventually went extinct around 40,000 years ago. One possible explanation for their extinction is that they were outcompeted by H. sapiens, who were more technologically advanced and had a wider range of habitats.
### The Legacy of the Dispersal
The dispersal of H. erectus out of Africa is a major event in human history. It allowed humans to colonize new territories and adapt to new environments. It also set the stage for the eventual evolution of modern humans.
The legacy of the dispersal of H. erectus can be seen in the diversity of human populations today. Humans are found on every continent except Antarctica, and they speak over 7,000 languages. This diversity is a testament to the adaptability and resilience of the human species.
## Timeline of the Dispersal
The dispersal of H. erectus out of Africa occurred over a long period of time. The following is a timeline of some of the key events:
1.9 million years ago: H. erectus evolves in Africa.
1.8 million years ago: H. erectus begins dispersing to other parts of the world.
1.7 million years ago: H. erectus reaches the Caucasus Mountains, in Eurasia.
1.5 million years ago: H. erectus reaches China.
1.2 million years ago: H. erectus reaches Europe.
500,000 years ago: H. erectus reaches Australia.
## Hominin Species that Dispersed Out of Africa
In addition to H. erectus, there were a number of other hominin species that dispersed out of Africa. These species include:
Homo heidelbergensis: A hominin species that lived in Europe and Asia from around 600,000 to 200,000 years ago.
Homo neanderthalensis: A hominin species that lived in Europe and Asia from around 400,000 to 40,000 years ago.
Homo sapiens: The modern human species, which evolved in Africa around 200,000 years ago and dispersed to other parts of the world around 60,000 years ago.
## Conclusion
The dispersal of H. erectus out of Africa was a major event in human evolution. It allowed humans to colonize new territories and adapt to new environments. It also set the stage for the eventual evolution of modern humans.
The legacy of the dispersal of H. erectus can be seen in the diversity of human populations today. Humans are found on every continent except Antarctica, and they speak over 7,000 languages. This diversity is a testament to the adaptability and resilience of the human species.