Great Migration
Overview
The Great Migration (Korean: 대이동; Hanja: 大移動) is a concept collectively referring to the phenomenon in which a particular group moves on a large scale from one region to another. Historically, it refers to large-scale migration of ethnic groups and populations; ecologically, to the seasonal movement of animals; and sociologically, to phenomena accompanied by the restructuring of population structures and culture. The Great Migration is often a civilizational event that, beyond simple physical movement, brings about the reorganization of politics, economy, culture, and language.
Main Content
Historical Ethnic Great Migrations
The most widely known case is Europe's "Migration Period" in the 4th–7th centuries. Triggered by the westward advance of the Huns, various Germanic tribes moved en masse into the territory of the Roman Empire, decisively influencing the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the formation of medieval Europe. The migrations of this period simultaneously brought about the collapse of political order and the establishment of new kingdoms.
Out of Africa Theory and Human Great Migration
In paleoanthropology, the "Out of Africa" migration, in which anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens) left Africa and spread across the world about 60,000–70,000 years ago, is viewed as humanity's first great migration. This migration is supported by cross-validation in genetics, archaeology, and linguistics, and is the origin of population distribution and cultural diversity on all continents.
The United States' Great Migration
In the 20th-century United States, there was the "Great Migration," in which the Black population moved en masse from the rural South to cities in the North and West. From around 1916 to 1970, about 6 million people moved, and this had a profound impact on the U.S. industrial structure, urban culture, and civil rights movement. The spread of musical cultures such as jazz and blues is also closely tied to this migration.
Animal Great Migration
The representative example of an ecological great migration is the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti of East Africa. Every year, about 1.5 million wildebeest and zebras circulate between Kenya's Maasai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti in search of water and grass. North American caribou, Arctic migratory birds, and Pacific salmon returning are also representative. These movements are central to ecosystem material cycles and maintaining food chains.
Modern Migration Great Movements
With industrialization and globalization, international migration surged. Representative examples include the influx of foreign workers into the Gulf region after the late 20th century, the influx of refugees into Europe, and expanded immigration to the United States, Canada, and Australia. Entering the 21st century, "climate refugees," combining climate change and conflict, have emerged as a driver of new great migrations.
Latest Trends
As of 2024–2025, the discourse on great migration is being reorganized around three axes: climate, technology, and population. First, as migration due to climate change begins in earnest, the World Bank projects that up to 200 million or more people will experience climate-related movement by 2050. Second, with the spread of AI and remote work, "digital nomads" and inter-city population redistribution are creating a new form of voluntary great migration. Third, labor shortages caused by low birth rates and aging populations are promoting discussions on easing immigration policies. Meanwhile, in wildlife great migration research, the combination of GPS and satellite tracking technology with AI analysis has greatly improved the accuracy of migration route prediction, and "ecological corridor" policies to prevent habitat fragmentation are expanding internationally. Political conflicts over migrant human rights and border control have also become key agendas in major countries.
Related Topics
- [[Ethnic migration]]
- [[Origin of humanity]]
- [[Migration]]
- [[Refugee]]
- [[Climate change]]
- [[Serengeti]]