Out of Africa dispersal
Also called: Out of Africa theory · Topic: Prehistory: Human Origins and Stone Age Cultures · NCERT: Class 9, Ch 4 "Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation"
Meaning
The Out of Africa dispersal is the idea that early humans evolved in Africa and then spread across the world in waves. The first wave was Homo erectus, which left c. 2 million years ago and reached Asia and Europe. Much later came Homo sapiens, which evolved in Africa c. 300,000 years ago. Its major exit was c. 125,000 years ago. It reached Australia and the Americas between 50,000 and 12,000 years ago. This explains why Africa, Asia and Europe, together called the "Old World", hold the earliest human settlements.
Example
African-type handaxes and cleavers found across Asia and Europe show the first wave, made by Homo erectus, c. 2 million years ago.
Don't confuse with
- Multiregional view: this rival idea says modern humans developed separately in many regions. The Out of Africa view says Homo sapiens arose in Africa alone and then spread.