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What killed the first Europeans? Probably a massive climate cooling around 1.1 million years ago.
Over a million years ago, the temperature in southern Europe plummeted. This led to the extinction of the first prehumans inhabiting our continent.
A million years ago, our species — Homo sapiens — did not yet exist. However, other hominids, distant ancestors of modern humans, already roamed the Earth. When did these prehumans leave Africa and venture into unknown territories? The oldest known evidence of their presence outside of Africa dates back to 1.8 million years ago.
This is based on remains and stone tools found at the archaeological site in Dmanisi, Georgia. Scientists believe that Homo erectus (sometimes the Dmanisi findings are attributed to a separate species — Homo georgicus) first appeared in those areas. These prehumans then migrated westward to Europe. Italy and Spain were already inhabited around 1.4–1.2 million years ago.
The climate favored the colonization of the European continent. In the south, it was similar to today’s climate, but more humid. There were more swamps and wetlands, which served as biodiversity hotspots and sources of food.
Despite this, the first populations of Europeans were scattered and few. “However, when people did arrive in Europe, they were present there fairly…
