Final answer:
Homo erectus was the first hominid to leave Africa and colonize Europe and Asia, appearing about 1.8 million years ago. This species used tools, controlled fire, and its migrations led to diverse human species.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first hominid to expand out of Africa and inhabit Europe and Asia was Homo erectus. Appearing approximately 1.8 million years ago and believed to have originated in East Africa, Homo erectus was the first member of the genus Homo to migrate out of Africa. This species possessed both physiological and cultural characteristics that facilitated migration into a variety of climatic zones, including the use of tools and the control of fire. Populations of Homo erectus settled in new environments, which led to the development of various human species such as Homo heidelbergensis and later on Homo neanderthalensis. The extensive migrations by Homo erectus were likely driven by various factors like climate change and the pursuit of prey. Over millennia, these migrations and the subsequent adaptations resulted in the rich diversity of human species that we see in the fossil record, with some like the Neanderthals and Denisovans emerging outside Africa.