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Prehistory Timeline

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Neolithic Period (New Stone Age)

Paleolithic Period (Old Stone Age)

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Mesolithic Period (Middle Stone Age)

Mesolithic Period (Middle Stone Age)

The Mesolithic period, which began around 10,000 BCE and ended with the advent of agriculture (around 8.000 - 6,000 BCE in some regions), served as a transitional phase between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. This era followed the end of the last Ice Age, as the planet warmed and landscapes became more varied, with forests, rivers, and coastal areas offering diverse resources. Humans adapted by developing smaller, more specialized tools. The invention of the fishing hook and the use of nets marked an important shift toward exploiting aquatic resources. During the Mesolithic, humans began to settle in semi-permanent camps,. While they still practiced hunting and gathering, they started experimenting with the management of plant life and the domestication of animals, particularly dogs. These settlements led to the emergence of more complex social structures, with trade, early forms of social hierarchy, and cultural practices like burial rites becoming more common. The Mesolithic represents a time of increasing environmental adaptation and innovation.

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Neolithic Period (New Stone Age)

The Neolithic period, beginning around 8,000 BCE and lasting in some regions until about 3,000 BCE, marked a revolutionary change in human history as people transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle of hunting and gathering to a more settled agricultural society. This transformation, known as the Neolithic Revolution, involved the domestication of plants like wheat, barley, and lentils, and animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle. The ability to cultivate crops and raise livestock allowed humans to establish permanent settlements, leading to the development of villages and, eventually, more complex societies. Agriculture also led to population growth, as food surpluses could support larger communities. With the shift to farming, new technologies emerged, such as pottery for food storage and tools like plows and sickles for more efficient agriculture. Neolithic people also constructed more permanent homes, often made of mud bricks or stone, and began building larger communal structures, such as temples or meeting houses. The development of trade networks between villages further spurred technological and cultural exchange. In the late Neolithic, humans began to experiment with metallurgy, which would eventually lead to the Bronze Age. The social changes of the Neolithic, including the rise of social hierarchies and more complex political structures, laid the foundation for the development of early civilizations.

Paleolithic Period

The Paleolithic period, lasting from around 2.5 million years ago to approximately 10,000 BCE, was the longest phase of human prehistory. During this era, early humans were hunter-gatherers, . They used basic stone tools such as hand axes, scrapers, and spearheads, which they crafted from flint or other sharp-edged stones. Human groups were nomadic, moving in small bands to follow seasonal migrations of animals and the availability of plant resources. Social structures were likely loose, with cooperation focused on survival, hunting, and protection from predators. Early art forms, including cave paintings, engravings, and sculptures, began to emerge. Control of fire was a major breakthrough, providing warmth, protection, and the ability to cook food, which made nutrients more accessible. Humans also began to live in temporary shelters, such as caves or simple structures made from animal bones and hides. Toward the end of the Paleolithic, evidence of spiritual or ritualistic behavior, such as burial practices, suggests a growing complexity in human thought and culture.