Humanity has spent most of its life in Africa. If you haven’t watched the Incredible Human Journey yet, then you won’t be able to imagine this but, we are all from Africa. Not just black people but white, Chinese – everybody! At least that is what Dr Alice Roberts proposes.
In this captivating documentary, Dr Alice Roberts travels the globe to discover what it was like when humans left Africa to populate the world. They had to overcome hostile terrain, severe weather, and competition from other species of humans. She pieces together bones, stone fragments, and new DNA evidence to show how this journey transformed these African ancestors into the people we know today.
Alice travels to Africa to find the birthplace of the first people. Their numbers were so few, and as vulnerable as they were, they would probably be considered an endangered species today. How did they manage to survive? The Bushmen of the Kalahari may have some answers. Their unique bodies have made them efficient hunters, and their ancient click language indicates the ability to plan and organise.
Humans survived in Africa, but it was effectively a closed continent.
Alice Roberts explores the route humans took to journey out of Africa. The genetic evidence indicates that all living people not from Africa today descend from a single, successful group that left Africa around 70,000 years ago in a single crossing. The question is, how did they do it? Alice ventures into the Arabian Desert in search of clues.
Alice Roberts-The Incredible Human Journey-Africa from jstube36 on Vimeo.
This is a fascinating five episode series from the BBC. Using DNA testing scientists show how our genes can be traced back to Africa and Dr Alice Roberts shows us how humans left Africa to become what we all are today.
Watch it on YouTube or buy the DVD
