sciPAD

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1. How do scientists know that hominis evolved in, and subsequently dipersed from, Africa.

Both fossil and DNA evidence indicates an African origin for the Homo genus.

2. Outine why early Homo were successful in leaving Africa.

Efficient bipedal gait allowed long distance travel, possibly following grazing herds that could be hunter using intellengence and teamwork, and effective tools to obtain meat.

3. Suggest why Homo sapiens reached South-East Asia and Australia before western Europe.

Europe as still experiencing the end of a glaciation event. H. sapiens probably followed a more temperature coastal route.

4. Describe the effects of glaciation on the global dispersal of early Homo sapiens.

Glaciation would have deterred H. sapiens from migrating into Northern/Western Europe, where conditions were harsh. With Africa effectively cut off by the Sahara Desert, H. sapiens probably followed animal migrations (food source) along a more temperate coastal route, using land bridges that resulted from lower sea levels to reach Indonesia, Australia, etc.

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