The first humans, and the first civilizations, began in Africa. The Pharaonic civilization of ancient Egypt is one of the world’s oldest and longest-lasting civilizations. Cave paintings have been found in South Africa that are over 75,000 years old.

      Long before humans emerged, Africa was attached to all the other continents to form one massive landmass called Pangea. Over millions of years Pangea slowly broke apart to form the world’s continents as we know them today.

      The oldest human remains discovered so far were found in Ethiopia. The remains are roughly 200,000 years old. Africa is the world’s oldest populated area. Africa is where human beings first appeared on earth.

      Africa has the most countries of any continent. It has 54 countries and one non-self governing territory, the Western Sahara. It is the second largest and second most heavily populated continent.