Final answer:
The African climate became drier during the Miocene period, leading to the expansion of grasslands. This climatic change influenced the evolution and migration patterns of Homo sapiens and other species, as Homo sapiens adapted strategies that allowed them to survive and eventfully migrate out of Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Miocene period, which is part of the Tertiary Period of the Cenozoic Era, the African climate underwent significant change. Initially, the climate was warm and humid, which promoted the evolution of a variety of mammalian species. As the period progressed, however, the climate began to dry.
Homo sapiens, our own species, are thought to have survived these changing conditions by adopting strategies suited to the new environments. As hunter-gatherers, they could adapt their diets and ways of life to the shrinking forested areas and expanding savannas.