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Australia

Season 1 Episode 4 | 54m 40s

When humans arrived in Australia, they were, for the first time, truly alone, surrounded by wildly different flora and fauna. How did they survive and populate a continent? There is a close cultural and genetic link between early Australians and modern-day Aborigines; here the ancient and modern story intersect as nowhere else.

Aired: 06/29/15 | Expires: 12/31/69

Extras

Watch • 54:40

First Peoples

Europe

Find out why Neanderthals, with whom early humans in Europe interbred, went extinct.

Episode: S1 E5 | 54:40

First Peoples

A Human Hybrid?

When Homo sapiens turned up in prehistoric Europe, they ran into the Neanderthals.

Clip: S1 E5 | 1:28

First Peoples

The First Modern European

Archaeologists uncover a modern human in a European cave.

Clip: S1 E5 | 2:14

First Peoples

An Impossible Task

Scientists demonstrate the challenges in reconstructing DNA from a Neanderthal bone.

Clip: S1 | 2:34

First Peoples

Next on Episode 5 | Europe

Find out why Neanderthals, with whom early humans in Europe interbred, went extinct.

Preview: S1 E5 | 0:30

First Peoples

Next on Episode 3 | Asia

Discover a type of ancient human whose genes helped us face down extinction.

Preview: S1 E3 | 0:30

First Peoples

The Dangers of Genetic Isolation

Witness the dangers of genetic isolation exemplified by the duck-billed platypus.

Clip: S1 | 2:05

First Peoples

The Denisovans – A New Type of Human Discovered by Genetics

Discover the ancient humans living across Asia when Homo sapiens arrived.

Clip: S1 E3 | 1:25

First Peoples

The Curious Species

Explore what motivated early human migration to Asia.

Clip: S1 E3 | 1:22

First Peoples

My Ancestors

The close cultural and genetic link between early Australians and modern-day Aborigines.

Clip: S1 E4 | 2:04

Latest Episodes

Watch • 54:40

First Peoples

Europe

Find out why Neanderthals, with whom early humans in Europe interbred, went extinct.

Episode: S1 E5 | 54:40

Watch • 54:40

First Peoples

Asia

Discover a type of ancient human whose genes helped us face down extinction.

Episode: S1 E3 | 54:40

Watch • 54:40

First Peoples

Americas

Learn why a discovery in Mexico may rewrite the story of early migration to the Americas.

Episode: S1 E1 | 54:40

Watch • 54:40

First Peoples

Africa

Examine research that suggests we humans are patchwork species of hybrids.

Episode: S1 E2 | 54:40