Historians believe that the first migrations began nearly 70,000-1,00,000 years ago when humans moved from the more populous territories such as Africa and Asia to unexplored lands of North America, South America and Australia.
How did our ancestors accomplish this feat?
Why in the first place did they take the decision of leaving their home behind?
These questions have been a baffling mystery for historians for centuries now, and till date no one precise answer can be given. There are various probabilities and theories surrounding each of these questions and while the experts try finding the most fitting explanations, it would be stimulating to try seeking answers to the second question ourselves.
‘Why’ may be the simplest question to ask but the most difficult question to answer. And while we may not be fully correct of the exact reason, there is one that seems befitting. Considerable depletion of resources in the regions led to fierce competition for them. On the other side, development of language would have allowed our ancestors to make plans, solve problems and organize effectively. Ergo, once people would have been able to communicate these concerns and make plans, they could possibly assess together whether the pressures in their current homes outweigh the risk of leaving to find a new one.
Perhaps, the much hasn’t changed in terms of continual cycle of desire- why is man never satisfied and always wants more? The feeling may be stronger in some people than it is in others but it is present in everyone- an inherent feeling that we need to be more than what we are right now.
This conceivably explains the current patterns of global migration for work. When pressures in the current home increase such as lack of job opportunities, little scope of career growth, poor wages and inferior standards of working quality, migrating seems like a better prospect. In search of a better future, people migrate to countries that promise better working conditions, higher incomes, proper working contracts, steady career growth and other incentives.
In today’s interconnected world, international migration has become a reality and touches nearly all corners of the globe. In fact, migrations can contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development in both home and host communities.