Prehistory, the time before developed writing, is typically split into three primary periods:
During the Stone Age
During the Bronze Age
and The Iron Age
Human communities were predominantly hunter-gatherers during this period, and they created various tools and technologies to help them survive.
We will discuss in this blog, the prehistoric era and the major historical occurrences in greater detail.
The Stone Age:
The Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic eras make up the Stone Age, the earliest prehistory stage
The Paleolithic period, commonly called the Old Stone Age, lasted approximately 2.5 million years until 10,000 BC. Humans were mostly nomadic hunters and gatherers who used stone tools for hunting, collecting, and producing fire throughout this time.
After the Paleolithic era, the Mesolithic period lasted from around 10,000 BC to 5,000 BC. At this time, new technologies and equipment were created, such as the bow and arrow, and used more sophisticated methods of collecting and hunting.
The advent of agriculture during the Neolithic era, which started approximately 5,000 BC, allowed people to congregate in one location and create increasingly sophisticated societies.
Here are a few more instances of the Stone Age and the instruments and innovations that were created at that time:
Stone implements:
Humans created stone tools for hunting, collecting, and other jobs throughout the Stone Age. Hand axes, scrapers, knives, and blades are some of these implements. Usually, achieve the required form by chipping and flaking chunks of stone.
The Stone Age produced some of the first known works of art, including cave paintings. Humans had breathtaking cave paintings at locations like Europe’s Lascaux and Altamira and Australia’s Kimberley, showing people, animals, and abstract patterns.
Fire:
During the Stone Age, humans discovered how to produce fire, which was a crucial discovery that allowed people to cook food, stay warm, and frighten away predators. They most likely produced sparks by rubbing two pieces of flint together or by friction when they ignited fires.
Humans also practiced their funeral rites throughout the Stone Age. For instance, they occasionally buried their deceased beside tools or other objects, either as a sign of respect or to prepare them for the afterlife.
Dog domestication:
Although the exact date of dog domestication is unclear, it is generally accepted that it took place during the Stone Age. Early people probably became aware that wolves might be taught to assist in hunting and started breeding them carefully to produce the first tamed dogs.
Bronze Age:
About 3,000 BC saw the start of the Bronze Age, which succeeded the Stone Age. At this time, people started using bronze, a copper and tin alloy, to produce tools and weapons. Bronze was used to make increasingly sophisticated tools and weaponry, which sparked the invention of new technologies like the plow and the wheel. Early civilizations, including the Sumerians, Egyptians, and Indus Valley, rose to prominence during the Bronze Age.
These are some further instances of the Bronze Age and the breakthroughs and advancements that defined this period:
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Metalworking with bronze:
As its name implies, bronze, an alloy created by mixing copper and tin, was used extensively throughout the Bronze Age. Since bronze was a stronger and more resilient material than stone or copper, its usage revolutionized the production of tools and weapons. Ornaments, jewelry, and other ornamental things were also made of bronze.
Writing systems:
Some early writing systems first appeared during the Bronze Age, including cuneiform in Mesopotamia and hieroglyphs in Egypt. Writing made it possible to retain records of significant occurrences, communicate ideas and information, and record important events.
Urbanization:
The Bronze Age saw the formation of urban centers, the development of agriculture, and the establishment of early civilizations. Trade, political, and cultural hubs included cities like Ur, Knossos, and Harappa.
Warfare:
The Bronze Age saw a considerable increase in bronze weapons and armor usage. Bronze swords, axes, and spears allowed armies to expand their empires and conquer new lands.
Architecture made major strides throughout the Bronze Age as humans discovered new ways to construct buildings from stone, wood, and mud brick. The Egyptian pyramids, the Mesopotamian ziggurats, and the megalithic stone circles of Europe are all examples of Bronze Age construction.
These are only a few of the numerous inventions and advancements that took place throughout the Bronze Age. The Bronze Age, as a whole, was a time of great cultural and technical development. It established the groundwork for many institutions and concepts that would influence human civilization for hundreds of years.
Iron Age:
About 1,200 BC saw the start of the Iron Age, which followed the Bronze Age. Around this time, people started making tools and weapons out of iron, a harder and more resilient material than bronze. Due to the development of even more sophisticated tools and weapons, such as the sword and axe, made possible by using iron, more complex cultures emerged.
These are some further instances of the Iron Age and the breakthroughs and advancements that defined this period:
Iron metallurgy:
The Iron Age was marked by the widespread use of iron, a more powerful and long-lasting material than bronze, as the name implies. Used iron to make new tools, machines, and weapons that transformed many facets of human life.
Empire growth:
Throughout the Iron Age, numerous strong empires rose to prominence, notably the Assyrians, Persians, and Romans. These empires established vast, centralized realms with powerful armed forces and bureaucratic structures.
Trade networks:
As empires grew, they began to build trade networks that covered considerable distances. Merchants brought commodities and ideas from various places and civilizations via well-known trade routes.
Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Taoism are significant intellectual and theological traditions that emerged throughout the Iron Age. New perspectives on ethics, spirituality and the nature of reality defined these movements.
Engineering and construction:
People in the Iron Age achieved great advancements in these fields because of the use of iron tools and equipment. Aqueducts, roads, bridges, and imposing constructions like Rome’s Colosseum are examples of Iron Age engineering and building.
These are only a few of the numerous inventions and advancements that took place during the Iron Age. Overall, the Iron Age saw enormous advances in culture, technology, and civilization. It also established the groundwork for many concepts and institutions that would influence modern human society.
Early humans created various tools and technology to help them survive. They also created language, music, and art, which aided in defining their civilizations and forging social ties.
The study of prehistory is crucial because it enables us to comprehend how human civilization has changed through time and how people have adapted to their settings.
Reference Books:
- The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child” by Susan Wise Bauer
- Prehistoric Europe: An Illustrated History” by Barry Cunliffe
- The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- The British Museum – The British Museum has a vast collection of artifacts from prehistoric times
- The National Geographic Society – National Geographic has produced many documentaries and articles on prehistory, including “The Story of Us” and “Origins: The Journey of Humankind
