What are the catalysts of migration?

Answer 1

Peoples migrate because of many reasons. Here is a summary of migration catalysts, it includes the major ones common to many peoples:

1. Climate. Changes in climate such as cold temperature changes may encourage a people to move to a warmer climate. This holds true for the reverse. Also a climate change reducing rainfall may force a people to seek more rain in order to grow their crops better.

2. Overuse of soil. Some ancient peoples may not have been aware of the practice of fallowing pieces of farmland. Not doing so wears out the richness of the soil and thus the population moves on to find fresh farmland.

3. Animal changes. A people who base their society on hunting wild game may be forced to migrate if the game they hunt has dropped in population or has "died out" to such a degree that the hunters must move on to find more game to hunt. Animal changes can result from disease, climate or over hunting.

4. Political changes. A people may find that tribes of new peoples are overwhelming the land they have dowelled in. This new people may be belligerent and cause danger to the original settlers. Thus the original people may chose to move on away from the new comers.

5. Government Political Changes. In more sophisticated societies are sensitive

to new governments that are hostile to them. In ancient societies, an invasion by another civilization, will change the "political power" structure. This change may force a people to move on.

5a. In more modern times a political change such as the expansion of the Soviet Union after WW2, may force parts of the now subjective population to seek political asylum.