Colonization in Europe

History
Premodern Humans
Short and repetitive migrations of hominids before 1 million years ago suggest that their residence was not permanent at the time. Colonisation of Europe in both prehistory and recent millennium were not achieved in one immigrating wave, but instead through multiple dispersal events. Most of these instances in Eurasia were limited to 40th parallel north. However, this presence was limited to western Europe, not reaching places like the Russian plains, until 200,000-300,000 years ago. Prior to arriving in Europe, the source of hominids appeared to be East Africa, where stone tools and hominid fossils are the most abundant and recorded.
Homo heidelbergensis
The most hominid fossils from the Middle Pleistocene (780,000-125,000 years ago) have been found in Europe. Remains of Homo heidelbergensis have been found as far north as the Atapuerca Mountains in Gran Dolina, Spain, and the oldest specimen can be dated from 850,000 to 200,000 years ago.
Middle Paleolithic age
Homo neanderthalensis
Homo neanderthalensis, also known as Neanderthals, evolved from a branch of Homo heidelbergensis that migrated to Europe during the Middle Pleistocene. Neanderthal populations date back as far as 400,000 years ago in the Atapuerca Mountains, Spain. While lacking the robustness attributed to west European Neanderthal morphology, other populations did inhabit parts of eastern Europe and western Asia. This is evident in the transfer and combination of technology and culture.
Upper Paleolithic Age
Homo neanderthalensis overlap with Homo sapiens
Look at technology and tool transfer as evidence of Migration of Modern Humans replacing Neanderthals
Classical Period
Late Antiquity
Medieval Ages
* Elaborate on Migration Period
Reasons for Migration
Homo ergaster specimens indicate a change toward a diet more reliant on animal products, evident by greater encephalization with higher energy requirements. This transition to becoming more carnivorous affected the way of life unlike primates before. Archaeological evidence of cut bones from large mammals and broken stone tools increasing in frequency support this increasing trend. Range could also increase or decrease in size due to environmental changes. At this time, Russia had an influx of people following the major prey species shifting to this region. It has been argued that Neanderthals', and previous hominids', expansion northward were limited by lacking proper thermoregulation. Larger game for hunting is available the closer you are to the poles.<ref name"Roebroeks 2006 425-435"/>
Non-European colonisation
The following non-European powers have made significant inroads onto the European continent:
* the Arab colonisation of southwestern Europe
* the Mongol colonisation of eastern Europe (cf. the "Tatar yoke")
* the Ottoman colonisation of southeastern Europe

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