[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

It is also related to the existence of the Gibraltar land bridge, allowing migration from Africa to Europe without the Middle East digression, IMHO.

[muawiyah]

500,000 years ago, or even 1.2 million years ago, these guys didn't need land bridges. They knew how to cross water using the magical powers of wood.

They were a lot smarter than bears, and today bears regularly try the door handle on a car before bashing in the windows!