There is enough reason with the evidence we have today that shows that modern humans have been nomads since their inception until about 10,000 years ago. The agricultural revolution taking place around that time made it extremely convenient to establish more permanent settlements. This is could be considered the beginning of what is commonly known as a hunter-gatherer society. So, in relation to your question’s first phrase, by the time that early Chinese civilization sprung up, civilizations to the west had been settled in one place for quite a long time.
