Final answer:
Early H. sapiens, including Neanderthals in Europe and related hominids in Africa and Asia, lived in these regions before Homo sapiens sapiens emerged, eventually migrating out and interbreeding with Neanderthals. As Homo sapiens spread globally, Neanderthals eventually disappeared from Europe around 40,000 years ago.
Step-by-step explanation:
The early humans known as Homo sapiens, including the Neanderthals and their relatives, inhabited regions spanning Africa, Europe, and Asia. Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) evolved from Homo erectus and were present in Europe and western Asia about 400,000 to 30,000 years ago. They had a robust physique well adapted to cold climates during the ice age, starting around 100,000 years ago. Modern humans, or Homo sapiens sapiens, originating from Africa, were initially physically weaker but had key advantages like longer limbs and the ability to form larger social groups. As climatic conditions improved around 50,000 years ago, they began migrating out of Africa, interbreeding with Neanderthals, and spreading across various regions of the globe.
The arrival of Homo sapiens sapiens in Europe correlates with the decline of Neanderthal populations until their disappearance around 40,000 years ago. The reasons for this decline include competition with modern humans, environmental changes, and possibly interbreeding. The legacy of Neanderthals continues as modern humans carry a small percentage of Neanderthal DNA due to ancient interbreeding events.