On Humans The Rest is History: From the Origins of Farming to the Dawn of Modernity ~ Johannes Krause
Apr 25, 2025
Johannes Krause, Director of the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology, dives into humanity's journey from early Homo sapiens to modern civilization. He discusses the transformative Neolithic Revolution, the genetic interactions with Neanderthals, and the complexities of ancient heritages. Krause highlights the influence of horse-riding cultures from the Eurasian steppe on empires and the dichotomy of human expansion versus sustainability. His reflections on our evolutionary path challenge us to consider our future on this planet.
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Neanderthal Admixture Anchors Timeline
- Modern humans outside Africa share about 2-3% Neanderthal DNA from one major admixture event 47,000 years ago.
- This admixture helps date the successful human expansion out of Africa around 50,000 years ago.
Green Sahara Population Revealed
- The Sahara was green and savanna-like from 15,000 to 5,000 years ago, supporting a unique North African population.
- This population was genetically closer to Europeans and Asians than to sub-Saharan Africans but lacked Neanderthal DNA.
Farming Spread by Migration in Europe
- Farming spread to Europe mostly via migration of early farmers from Anatolia who largely replaced hunter-gatherers.
- Northern Europe shows higher hunter-gatherer ancestry, indicating varied mixing proportions in the agricultural transition.
