Supplementary Data: The Supplementary Data contains the files used for the paleogeographic reconstruction presented in Fig. 4, 5, 6 and 7 as well as versions which consider a closed Turgai strait and previous paleosurfaces and paleoshorelines of Africa. It is organized in the following folders and subfolders (for details in the acronyms and rotation parameters see at the end): 1) 01_Poblete_Rotational_Model_FlowChart: This folder contains the following files and subfolder: a) Figure_Methodology_FlowChart.jpg: flow chart of the methodology b) Poblete_MasterBlocksPalegeography.dbf/prj/shp/xml/shx: Shapefile with the static polygons used for the paleogeographic reconstructions c) Poblete_Rotational_Model_AHS.rot: Atlantic Hotpsot (AHS) reference frame rotation file. d) Poblete_Rotational_Model_Pmag.rot: Paleomagnetic (Pmag) reference frame rotation file. e) Shapefiles_Data subfolder: e.1) 00_ThermoChron_Poblete_Masterv6.0.csv.dbf/prj/shp/xml/shx: Thermochron database e.2) 01_MagmaChronFiltered_Poblete_Master8.3.csv.dbf/prj/shp/xml/shx: Magmachron database e.3) 03_PaleoelevationCompiV2.0.csv.csv.dbf/prj/shp/xml/shx: Paleoelevation database e.4) 04_MarineAllFossils_161-0Ma.dbf/prj/shp/xml/shx: Marine fossil database e.5) 04_TerrestrialFossils_161-0Ma.csv.dbf/prj/shp/xml/shx: Terrestrial fossil databse 2) 02_60Ma_Models: This folder contains the files for the different paleogeographic reconstructions developed at 60 Ma. It is organized in the following subdirectories: a) 01_60Ma_NetCDF_File_Model_GIB_Africa_New: It contains the netCDF files of the Great Indian Basin model (Fig. 4) in three different reference frames: AHS, PMAG and GMHRF b) 02_60Ma_Paleoshorelines_Model_GIB_Africa_New: It contains the paleoshoreline of the Great Indian Basin model (Fig. 4) in a PMAG reference frame. c) 03_60Ma_Database_Model_GIB_Africa_New: It contains the database used for the reconstruction at 60Ma in a PMAG reference frame (Fig. 4). d) 04_60Ma_NetCDF_File_OtherVersions: It contains the netCDF files of the models presented in Fig. 7 with two different paleosurfaces and paleoshorelines of Africa d.1) NetCDF_Africa_New: African surface from Couvreur et al. (submitted) in three different reference frames: AHS, PMAG and GMHRF d.1.1) Model_60Ma_GIC d.1.2) Model_60Ma_IAAC d.1.3) Model_60Ma_LLLB d.2) NetCDF_Africa_Old: old paleosurface of Africa in three different reference frames: AHS, PMAG and GMHRF d.2.1) Model_60Ma_GIC d.2.2) Model_60Ma_IAAC d.2.3) Model_60Ma_LLLB e) 05_60Ma_Paleoelevations_Masks: It contains the masks of each region and an excel file with the paleoelevation changes. f) 06_60Ma_Straume2020_BathyGreen_Models: Models that integrates the bathymetry and Greenland from Straume et al., 2020. 3) 03_40Ma_Models: This folder contains the files for the different paleogeographic reconstructions developed at 40 Ma. It is organized in the following subdirectories: a) 01_40Ma_NetCDF_File_Model_GIB_OpenTurgai_Africa_New: It contains the netCDF files of the Great Indian Basin model with the Turgai Strait opened in three different reference frames: AHS, PMAG and GMHRF b) 02_40Ma_Paleoshorelines_Model_GIB_OpenTurgai_Africa_New: It contains the paleoshoreline of the Great Indian Basin model, with the Turgai Strait opened in PMAG reference frame. c) 03_40Ma_Database_Model_GIB_OpenTurgai_Africa_New: It contains the data set used for the reconstruction at 40Ma in a PMAG reference frame d) 04_40Ma_NetCDF_File_OtherVersions: It contains the netCDF files of the models presented in Fig. 7 with two different paleosurfaces and paleoshorelines of Africa. d.1) NetCDF_Africa_New: African surface from Couvreur et al. (submitted) in three different reference frames: AHS, PMAG and GMHRF d.1.1) Model_40Ma_GIB_TurgaiClose d.1.2) Model_40Ma_GIC_TurgaiClose d.1.3) Model_40Ma_GIC_TurgaiOpen d.1.4) Model_40Ma_IAAC_TurgaiClose d.1.5) Model_40Ma_IAAC_TurgaiOpen d.1.6) Model_40Ma_LLLB_TurgaiClose d.1.7) Model_40Ma_LLLB_TurgaiOpen d.2) NetCDF_Africa_Old: old paleosurface of Africa in three different reference frames: AHS, PMAG and GMHRF d.2.1) Model_40Ma_GIB_TurgaiClose d.2.2) Model_40Ma_GIB_TurgaiOpen d.2.3) Model_40Ma_GIC_TurgaiClose d.2.4) Model_40Ma_GIC_TurgaiOpen d.2.5) Model_40Ma_IAAC_TurgaiClose d.2.6) Model_40Ma_IAAC_TurgaiOpen d.2.7) Model_40Ma_LLLB_TurgaiClose d.2.8) Model_40Ma_LLLB_TurgaiOpen e) 05_40Ma_Paleoelevations_Masks: It contains the masks of each region and an excel file with the paleoelevation changes. f) 06_40Ma_Straume2020_BathyGreen_Models: Models that integrates the bathymetry and Greenland from Straume et al., 2020. 4) 04_20Ma_Models: This folder contains the files for the different paleogeographic reconstructions developed at 20 Ma. It is organized in the following subdirectories: a) 01_20Ma_NetCDF_File_Model_NewAfrica: It contains the netCDF files in AHS, PMAG and GMHRF reference frames. b) 02_20Ma_Paleoshorelines_Model_NewAfrica: It contains the paleoshoreline in PMAG reference frame. c) 03_20Ma_Database_Model_Model_NewAfrica: It contains the data set used for the reconstruction at 20Ma in a PMAG reference frame d) 04_20Ma_NetCDF_File_OtherVersions: It contains the netCDF files with an old paleosurface and paleoshoreline of Africa. e) 05_20Ma_Paleoelevations_Masks: It contains an Excel file with the calculations of the paleoelevations and xy file with the masks. f) 06_20Ma_Straume2020_BathyGreen_Models: Models that integrates the bathymetry and Greenland from Straume et al., 2020. 5) 05_GMT_Script: GMT Script for paleoDEM modifications. This script is an example and will explain how to modify a paleoDEM using as example the Central and Northern Andes and the Tibetan hImalayan Orogen. This procedure can be applied to any polygon defined by the user. ---Other considerations: AHS is for Atlantic Hotspot reference frame (O'Neil et al., 2005) PMAG is for Paleomagnetic reference frame (Torsvik et al., 2012) GMHRF is for Global Moving Hotspot reference frame (Doubrovine et al., 2012) Model GIC: Greater Indian Continent hypothesis Model GIB: Greater India basin hypothesis Model LLLB: Model with a low latidudinal position of the Lhasa block Model IAAC: India collision with an arc and then with Asia TurgaiClose: For models with the Turgai Straight closed. TurgaiOpen: For models with the Turgai Straight open. ---Transformations using grdrotater gmt tool at 60 Ma: ---From AHS to PMAG grdrotater OF_60Ma_AHS_WORLD_Model_A.nc -E-42.14/23.73/12.53 -V -GOF_60Ma_PMAG_WORLD_Model_A.nc=cf grdrotater OF_60Ma_PMAG_WORLD_Model_A.nc -E125.3/0.0/17.1 -V -GOF_60Ma_PMAG_WORLD_Model_A.nc=cf From AHS to GMHRF grdrotater OF_60Ma_AHS_WORLD_Model_A.nc -E-42.14/23.73/12.53 -V -GOF_60Ma_GMHRF_WORLD_Model_A.nc=cf grdrotater OF_60Ma_GMHRF_WORLD_Model_A.nc -E149.31/-56.84/11.47 -V -GOF_60Ma_GMHRF_WORLD_Model_A.nc=cf ---Transformations using grdrotater gmt tool at 40 Ma: ---From AHS to PMAG grdrotater OF_40Ma_AHS_WORLD_Model_A.nc -E-54.31/44.56/8.08 -V -GOF_40Ma_PMAG_WORLD_Model_A.nc=cf grdrotater OF_40Ma_PMAG_WORLD_Model_A.nc -E99.0/0.0/9.5 -V -GOF_40Ma_PMAG_WORLD_Model_A.nc=cf ---From AHS to GMHRF grdrotater OF_40Ma_AHS_WORLD_Model_A.nc -E-54.31/44.56/8.08 -V -GOF_40Ma_GMHRF_WORLD_Model_A.nc=cf grdrotater OF_40Ma_GMHRF_WORLD_Model_A.nc -E147.30/-37.63/9.09 -V -GOF_40Ma_GMHRF_WORLD_Model_A.nc=cf ---Transformations using grdrotater gmt tool at 20 Ma: ---From AHS to PMAG grdrotater OF_20Ma_AHS_WORLD.nc -E-78.55/45.23/3.99 -V -GOF_20Ma_PMAG_WORLD.nc grdrotater OF_20Ma_PMAG_WORLD.nc -E85.6/0.0/5.8 -V -GOF_20Ma_PMAG_WORLD.nc=cf ---From AHS to GMHRF grdrotater OF_20Ma_AHS_WORLD.nc -E-78.55/45.23/3.99 -V -GOF_20Ma_GMHRF_WORLD.nc grdrotater OF_20Ma_GMHRF_WORLD.nc -E156.74/-35.58/3.52 -V -GOF_20Ma_GMHRF_WORLD.nc=cf ---Transformations from Straume et al. (2020) to AHS were done using a reverse euler pole that was obtained by matching visualy South Africa at 60Ma/40Ma/20Ma and at 0Ma using the GPlates software. The euler poles at each rotation are as follow: ---60Ma grdrotater CF_paleobathy-topo_60.00Ma_Straume_et_al.nc -E-59.95/27.51/19.17 -V -GIF_60Ma_AHS_paleobathy-topo_Straume_et_al.nc=cf grdrotater IF_60Ma_AHS_paleobathy-topo_Straume_et_al.nc -E-42.14/23.73/-12.53 -V -GIF_60Ma_AHS_paleobathy-topo_Straume_et_al.nc=cf ---40Ma grdrotater CF_paleobathy-topo_40.00Ma_Straume_et_al.nc -E93.06/-27.6/-10.56 -V -GIF_40Ma_AHS_paleobathy-topo_Straume_et_al.nc=cf grdrotater IF_40Ma_AHS_paleobathy-topo_Straume_et_al.nc -E-54.31/44.56/-8.08 -V -GIF_40Ma_AHS_paleobathy-topo_Straume_et_al.nc=cf ---20Ma grdrotater CF_paleobathy-topo_20.00Ma_Straume_et_al.nc -E83.67/-16.78/-5.79 -V -GIF_20Ma_AHS_paleobathy-topo_Straume_et_al.nc=cf grdrotater IF_20Ma_AHS_paleobathy-topo_Straume_et_al.nc -E-78.55/45.23/-3.99 -V -GIF_20Ma_AHS_paleobathy-topo_Straume_et_al.nc=cf