Scientists generally believe that Homo sapiens arose in Africa and spread to the rest of the world. This theory is often referred to as the "Out of Africa" model, which posits that modern humans originated in Africa and then migrated to other regions, eventually populating the entire globe.
The other options you provided do not accurately reflect the prevailing scientific understanding:
- Homo sapiens are not considered the earliest ancestors of modern humans; rather, they are the species that eventually became modern humans.
- While there is evidence of different human species in various parts of the world, the consensus is that Homo sapiens primarily arose in Africa.
- The notion that they once lived in Africa but were replaced by modern humans is incorrect; Homo sapiens are the modern human species.
In summary, the widely accepted view is that Homo sapiens originated in Africa and migrated outwards.