Key Periods:
1. Stone Age:
- The Stone Age is divided into three main periods: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic.
- Paleolithic: This period, known as the Old Stone Age, lasted from around 2.6 million years ago to approximately 10,000 BCE. It was characterized by the use of stone tools, hunting and gathering, and living in caves or temporary shelters.
- Mesolithic: The Middle Stone Age, which lasted from around 10,000 BCE to 6000 BCE, saw the development of smaller, more specialized stone tools and the beginning of agriculture.
- Neolithic: The New Stone Age, which began around 6000 BCE and lasted until around 3000 BCE, was marked by the emergence of settled agriculture, pottery-making, and domestication of animals.
2. Metal Age:
- The Metal Age succeeded the Stone Age and is further divided into three major periods: the Copper Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.
- Copper Age: The Copper Age, spanning from around 4000 BCE to 3000 BCE, saw the initial use of copper for making tools and weapons.
- Bronze Age: The Bronze Age, lasting from around 3000 BCE to 1200 BCE, was characterized by the alloying of copper and tin to create bronze, which enabled advancements in metallurgy and led to the development of more sophisticated tools, weapons, and decorative objects.
- Iron Age: The Iron Age, beginning around 1200 BCE, marked the transition to the use of iron for tools and weapons. It brought about significant technological and social advancements, ushering in the development of stronger weapons, armor, and agricultural implements.
The prehistoric era is an extensive period of human history defined by the absence of written records. It covers various stages of technological innovations, social organizations, cultural expressions, and human adaptation to different environments. The study of this era helps us comprehend the origins and evolution of human societies and the foundations upon which modern civilization was built.