You can download this leaflet and construct a 3D globe to learn more about humanity’s travels. To facilitate the application of this tool in a classroom or with students in educational environments, we also created a guide for didactic exploration. 

This globe intersects two great voyages of humanity. Between and after these, countless other trips and migrations took place, creating our species’ complex genetic heritage. The first major voyage represents the expansion of modern humans (Homo sapiens) across the globe. Since their origin in Africa 300 000 – 200 000 years ago, it is only about 70 000 years ago that the successful migration of a small group of modern humans out of Africa occurred, taking advantage of the favourable conditions to expand over the immense landmass. In evolutionary terms, this expansion was quick and was carried out in waves by small groups, who multiplied in the new territories. One of the genetic effects of this expansion process completed by small founding groups was the decrease of populations’ genetic diversity the farther they were from the original region.

The second voyage depicted on the map circled the vast “archipelago” of continents, from 1519 to 1522. Fernão de Magalhães and Juan Sebastián Elcano undertook a sea voyage mostly throughout the southern hemisphere.

This journey goes in the opposite direction to the human expansion effected for the most part by land and initiated 70 000 years ago. Many of that second voyage’s landmarks were, at the time, vital and dynamic commercial points and a meeting ground of different cultures and lineages. After all, many generations of modern humans built, destroyed and rebuilt geographies, cultures and knowledge. This expedition, however, proved that global seafaring travels were possible.