Why is Africa Called The Cradle Land of Man?

Africa is known as the Cradle of Mankind because it was the place where the first great ancestors of modern humans evolved and flourished. These early humans left Africa and spread around the globe, leaving traces of their DNA in the DNA of all the people they encountered.

The Stone Age lasted for hundreds of thousands of years, but the human race only dates back about 2 million years. In that time, our species has evolved from being primarily hunter-gatherers to becoming the dominant species on the planet.

Our ancestors began to leave Africa about 60,000 years ago, but most modern humans today can trace their ancestry back to a group that left Africa about 60,000 years ago as well. These early humans were the ancestors of all modern humans, but not all of them left Africa.

This article will explore where our ancestors came from, what happened to them when they left Africa, and where they settled after that.

Where Do Humans Come From?

Humans are members of the genus "Homo," which currently consists of two species: "Homo sapiens" and "Homo neanderthalensis." The former left Africa 50,000 years ago, while the latter evolved in Europe and died out around 40,000 years ago.

Both of these species are now extinct, and our species, "Homo sapiens," has lived on Earth for the last 120,000 years.

Humans are a species of the genus "Homo." Members of this genus first evolved in Africa, and then suddenly, around 60,000 years ago, they began to spread around the globe.

Humans belong to the species "Homo sapiens." DNA tests show that we have a common ancestor with Neanderthals, but we also share a common ancestor with chimpanzees.

How Did Humans Leave Africa?

The first humans to leave Africa were the ancestors of modern humans, also known as Homo sapiens. Knowing where they came from is important to understanding where they went.

There are several competing theories on the origins of modern humans. One theory is that we emerged from Africa 200,000 years ago and have been in the process of leaving Africa ever since.

This theory suggests that modern humans evolved in Africa, where they eventually began to leave Africa. But why did they leave and where did they go?

The second theory is that modern humans evolved in East Asia, and then migrated out of Africa about 70,000 years ago.

This second theory suggests that modern humans evolved in Africa, but that they did not leave the continent until about 70,000 years ago.

What Happened to Humans When They Left Africa?

When our ancestors left Africa, they faced many challenges. One of the most serious was the loss of tropical forests, which provided a continuous food source and a stable climate.

Many wild animals, especially large animals such as elephants and lions, disappeared from Africa after the first humans left. This meant that humans no longer had many sources of protein to sustain them on the move.

The first humans to leave Africa were not the ancestors of modern humans, but rather the ancestors of the Neanderthals. The Neanderthals were an ancient species of human that evolved in Europe, and they survived until around 40,000 years ago before going extinct.

The earliest modern humans left Africa 60,000 years ago, but most of them did not survive long after they left. This may be because the earliest humans were unable to find enough resources to support a population of over a few dozen people.

What Does it Mean that Humans Evolved in Africa?

The fact that humans evolved in Africa does not mean that all humans are African, or even that all Africans are humans. In fact, only about 2% of the population of Africa is African, and the rest of the people in Africa are descended from various peoples who migrated to the continent in various times.

The remaining 98% of the world's population is descended from people who migrated out of Africa, and they now live all over the world.

Bottom line

Humans left Africa 60,000 years ago, and after that, we know little about where they went and what happened to them. We do know that humans are extremely adaptable and can survive in a wide variety of habitats, so it's likely that humans survived the great die-off that occurred after the Ice Age.

What we know for certain is that modern humans evolved in Africa and left 60,000 years ago. They are not African, and they evolved in response to challenges faced by our ancient ancestors.