4. The Long Road to the Global Presence of Humankind 1,000 Human entry into New Zealand (last major region to receive human settlers) 3,500 - 11,000 Austronesian migration to Pacific Islands and Madagascar 11,000 Extinction of large mammals in North America 12,000 - 10,000 Earliest agricultural revolutions 16,000 - 10,000 End of last Ice Age (global warming) 25,000 Extinction of Neanderthals 25,000 Cave art in Europe 30,000 - 15,000 Human entry into the Americas 30,000 Extinction of large mammals in Australia 40,000 Human entry into Europe 60,000 - 40,000 Human entry into Australia (first use of boats) 70,000 Human entry into eastern Asia 100,000 Beginnings of human migration out of Africa 250,000 Earliest Homo sapiens in Africa 1.9 million to 200,000 Homo erectus (first controlled use of fire and first hominid migrations out of Africa) 2.5 million Homo habilis (early use of stone tools) 7 million to 6 million Earliest bipedal hominids YEARS AGO (all date approximate)
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7. Agricultural Breakthroughs Sunflower, goosefoot, sumpweed 2,000 - 1,000 Eastern woodlands of North America Turkey Maize, squash (perhaps 7,000 B.C.E.), beans 3,000 - 2,000 Mesoamerica Llamas, alpaca, guinea pig Potatoes, quinoa, manioc 3,000 - 2,000 Andres region Taro, bananas, yams, sugarcane 7,000 - 4,000 Highland New Guinea Cattle (perhaps 8,000 B.C.E.) Sorghum, millet, yams, teff 3,000 - 2,000 Saharan and sub-Saharan Africa Pigs, chickens, water buffalo Rice, millet, yams, teff 6,500 - 5,000 China Goats, sheep, cattle, pigs Barley, wheat, lentils, figs 9,000 - 7,000 Southwest Asia (Fertile Crescent) Animals Plants Dates (B.C.E.) Location