Characteristics of Prehistory in the Paleolithic

The life of humanity is divided into two clearly different stages: Prehistory and History. The first begins when the first hominids appear in the world, that is, it begins almost 3 million years ago and, within this first stage, we find different moments that are marked by the advances of the civilization: the Paleolithic (or Stone Age), Mesolithic and Neolithic (or New Stone Age).

We do not talk about History until writing is invented, that is, in 3500 BC, that is when the historical period that is divided into four large blocks: Ancient Age, Middle Ages, Modern Age and Age Contemporary In this lesson from a teacher we are going to show you the characteristics of Prehistory in the Paleolithic so you can understand what life was like back then and what kind of hominids (our ancestors) lived on Earth.

Index

1. The Paleolithic: general characteristics of this time of Prehistory
2. Main characteristics of the Lower Paleolithic
3. Main characteristics of the Middle Palaeolithic
4. Main characteristics of the Upper Palaeolithic

As we have already pointed out at the beginning of this lesson, Prehistory is divided into three parts: the Paleolithic (which, in turn, is divided into lower, middle and upper, as we will see later), the Mesolithic and the Neolithic. The basic differences of each of these periods of history are determined by the manufacture of new tools but, also, the evolution of the human species and the creation of societies.

But in this lesson we will talk about Paleolithic and its characteristics, stage known as the Old Stone Age. This time is the longest and where we made the most progress as a species and as a society; This is when the first hominids emerge and, therefore, when intelligent life begins to take shape on Earth.

The reason why this historical moment is known as the "Stone Age" is precisely because stone began to be used as a material for the first tools made by hominids, the first humans who lived in the savannas of Africa Oriental. The Paleolithic began 2.85 million years ago and it ended 10,000 years ago, when the Mesolithic was inaugurated and agriculture and livestock began to develop.

Characteristics of the Paleolithic period

• During the Paleolithic prehistory period they lived great climate changes and, in fact, the periods of glaciation alternated having, at the end, four glaciations of polar climate that have been baptized with the names of Günz, Mindel, Riss and Würm (in chronological order).
• In the oldest stage, hominids began to build simple tools like, for example, using the stones as if they were hammers or breaking them into pieces to use the sharpest parts as an object to be able to cut.
• We can also talk about artistic characteristics in the Paleolithic because it is at this time when the first expressions linked to the world of art begin to emerge and that we currently know as "rock art". They were carried out, normally, inside caves (in which they lived) and animals are drawn on the rocks.
• The hominids that lived at this time were nomadic societiesIn other words, they did not have a fixed place of residence but instead moved according to their food and weather needs.
• The evolution of species arises in the Paleolithic and it is at this moment when the first Homo Hábilis appears that evolves to Homo Eructus, then to Neardental and, finally, to Homo Sapiens Sapiens.

However, we are going to study in depth this moment of the Prehistory in the Paleolithic And, for this, we are going to analyze each of the three phases that make up this vast and important period for humanity.

In addition, in this other lesson from a teacher we will discover all about the Neolithic in a short summary easy to study so you can delve into this other stage of Prehistory.

As the Paleolithic is such a long period of Prehistory, experts have divided it into three different moments, each one representing an evolution of the previous one. So we start by talking about Archaic Lower Palaeolithic and its characteristics so that we can know how the first hominids that populated the Earth lived and organized.

Social organization in the Lower Paleolithic

The way of life that these first humans had was very basic and simple: they were in charge of collecting, hunt and fish and they moved and set up their homes in those places where it would be easier for them to live and eat. For this reason, they were groups of nomads that were moving through the territory in search of the best possibilities to survive within nature.

To do this, they began to build the first weapons made with stone and stone carved so that they could be used both as hammers and as knives. In fact, carved edge is the oldest tool ever made by humans. We speak of "groups" of hominids because they were not too large, they were organized into tribes or bands to be able to provide better food supplies but also to be able to procreate and protect themselves.

The types of humans in the Lower Paleolithic

To meet the first ancestors of humans we have to go to Africa and meet the Australopithecus, a bipedal species that inhabited both central, eastern and southern Africa.

However, they were not too similar to current humans and we cannot talk about the true evolution of humanity if we only look at them, since they were very similar to apes; It is Homo Habilis the species that allows human evolution to really begin to progress.

These first humans appeared in Africa being Homo Habilis the one responsible for making the first tool. In Asia, however, there is also evidence of the appearance of the first hominids that were baptized with the name of Homo Erectus and which were found in present-day China and Indonesia. These were the first of our kind that were able to use fire.

If you want to know what are the characteristics of the Middle Paleolithic Next we are going to explain them to you so that you understand this period of Prehistory. This period is known as "Mousterian" because in Le Moustier, France, fossil remains were found that led to the christening of this historical moment.

Hominids of the Middle Paleolithic

At this moment was when a new hominid appeared, Homo Neanderthalensis that appeared in Europe and that showed a greater capacity in the sudo of the tools, as well as a more elaborate construction of the same. The Neanderthal man was also nomadic and lived in caves where he took shelter; He was a hunter and, for this reason, his life was related to the migratory flows of the animals he consumed. In a PROFESSOR we discover the Neanderthal man characteristics.

For more than 70,000 years this new inhabitant was on our planet and, in fact, historians and archaeologists determine that a This species of hominid is to whom we owe the first funerary rites or, also, the use of fire as a way of lighting up by the night. His evolution allowed hunting tools to be perfected, as we have already pointed out, but also the techniques with which animals were captured and killed in order to feed themselves.

Africa is where Homo Sapiens Sapiens appears, that is, the first relative of the human being. This species was the closest to humans and was distributed throughout Europe, Southeast Asia and central Asia. It is an evolution with respect to other hominids since they present new abilities that allowed them to:

• Hunt large animals
• Control fire and make it part of your daily life
• Build shelters so you can live more comfortably
• Create much more detailed tools
• They made their own clothes to keep warm and better protect themselves from the cold

In the Paleolithic Prehistory period we find that the last stage is what is known as "Upper Paleolithic", that is, the moment before the change of period and that will take us to the Mesolithic.

Out of the Upper Palaeolithic characteristics that deserve to be mentioned, we highlight the following:

• Neanderthalensis man became completely extinct
• Instead, Homo Sapiens Sapiens began to take center stage among hominids.
• In this period of Prehistory is when the dog is domesticated by the first humans
• During this time, tools as useful as the bow or the propeller appear
• Within the Upper Paleolithic, art begins to be perfected and, therefore, the cave paintings are perfected but artistic expression increases with the appearance of engravings in caves (such as those in the Lascaux or Altamira cave)
• At this time, lithic tools are being perfected and different work techniques are developed much more detailed and meticulous that will allow them to improve their hunting skills.

Appearance of Homo Sapiens

But among all the most outstanding elements of this period of Prehistory we highlight that it is the moment in which Homo Sapiens appears, that is, our species. 200,000 years ago different climatic changes occurred on our planet that led to the extinction of multiple species, including Homo Neanderthalensis and Homo Floresiensis.

Homo Sapiens appeared in these periods of adverse weather conditions and, finally, it was the only species that survived these alterations of time. Since then, it is the only hominid living on Earth and it has evolved and perfected its techniques to be able to survive in an environment as hostile as nature.

Thus, this is the origin of man that dates back to prehistoric times and after a long process of evolution and improvement.

Also, in this other lesson from a Teacher you will find all about the main characteristics of Homo Sapiens so that you can go deeper.

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