Final answer:
The first modern Homo sapiens did not evolve from western Europe but emerged from Africa, migrated out, and replaced other human species. This 'out of Africa' model is supported by genetic data, with early humans later interbreeding with Neanderthals in Europe and Asia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the first modern Homo sapiens evolved from western Europe is false. The most widely accepted model of human evolution, often referred to as the "out of Africa" model, posits that modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) first emerged in Africa about 200,000 years ago. They then migrated out of Africa roughly 100,000 years ago in a second major migration wave, replacing earlier hominin species such as Homo erectus and later interbreeding with Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthals) in Europe and Asia.
Contrary to the multiregional evolution model which suggests that modern humans evolved from Homo erectus in multiple locations around the world, genetic data supports the idea that all modern humans share a common ancestry from Africa. Archaeological and fossil evidence indicates that early humans left Africa and subsequently adapted to a variety of environments globally, leading to varied human traits across different populations.