UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS

PALEOLITHIC PERIOD
The word “Paleolithic” was coined by an archeologist named
John Lubbock. It was derived from Greek word: “palaios” meaning
“old,” and “lithos” meaning “stone,” giving a meaning “Old Stone
Age.” The Paleolithic Age refers to the ancient cultural stage of the
development of human technology, which is characterized by the
creation and use of simple tools basically made from stones.

This period is the longest among the three different stone age.
It is said that the Stone Age began with the emergence of first stone. It
started from the first production of stone artefacts, about 2.5 million
years ago, until the end of the last Ice Age, about 9,600 BCE.

Culture during Paleolithic Period

The language was the most important innovation in the period of Paleolithic. Scientists conclude the use of language
due to reasons such as the people traveled on the vast land, built settlements, created tools, and created social and cultural
hierarchies. The scientists presume that language makes those things happen.

Studies on ancient Homo sapiens skulls suggest a brain with indentations that shows the development of areas of
the brain associated with language. How people develop their language skills is controversial. However, historical records
show that language allows the creation of increasingly complex social structures with greater ability to be discussed,
morality, spirituality, and meaning.

Artwork such as cave drawings and paintings exhibit the creativity and structure of the group. They are interested
in sharing knowledge, expressing feelings, and conveying cultural information to future generations. Although artworks
rarely existed from more than 35,000 years ago, there is sufficient evidence of cave paintings and figures from later eras.

Society during Paleolithic Period

The customary Paleolithic society follows the economic hunters and gatherers. People hunt wild animals for meat
and collect food, firewood, and supplies for their equipment, clothing, and shelter. The acceptance of two technologies, such
as clothing and shelter, cannot be precisely determined but remains the key to human progress.
 UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS

NEOLITHIC PERIOD
The word “Neolithic” was also coined by an archeologist named
John Lubbock. It was derived from Greek word: “néos” meaning
“new,” and “lithos” meaning “stone,” giving a meaning “New Stone
Age.” The Neolithic Age was the last stage of cultural development
among prehistoric people. It is characterized by stone tools formed by
polishing or grinding, dependence on plants or pets, settlements in
permanent villages and the appearance of crafts such as pottery and
weaving. This period is considered as the most important development
in human history as it shapes the way we live today.
This period started approximately 9,000 BCE in the Near East,
7,000 BCE in Southeast Europe, 6,000 BCE in East Asia, and even later
in other regions.

Culture during Neolithic Period

Massive changes in people's lifestyles also change the type of art they do. The Neolithic statue grows partly because
people don't need to carry it anywhere. Pottery is becoming increasingly common and is used to store food on agriculture.
This is also the time when alcohol is made and the interior-exterior decoration of architecture appears for the first time. In
short, people move somewhere and start living there year after year. Stonehenge was one of the famous historical art from
this period that remains mysterious on how it was built
 UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS

AGE OF METAL

Cultural evidence of human existence is divided into two main

periods - "Stone Age" and "Metal Age." The Stone Age precedes the
Metal Age. The duration of the two periods is not the same. The Stone
Age continues well beyond than the Metal Age, with metals being used
recently.
Age of metal is the last period in prehistoric age. It started
around 4,500 BC and ended when the first written texts began to be
used. If possible, the late history of the Metal Age is reconstructed
according to written records. A series of different cultures put together,
presented by archaeologists, in various parts of the world to finalize the
metal age in the world. Age of Metal was divided into three major
periods:
1. Copper Age- Culture during copper age is basically called “chalcolithic.” The word was derived from the Greek
word "khalkós," meaning "copper" and "líthos," meaning "stone." The human culture is before the Bronze Age. The
culture was primarily marked by the use of copper and stone tools. The Chalcolithic period is generally only
recognized in Europe and in Central and Western Asia. Copper first appeared in the Old World, especially in
Mesopotamia. Several copper instruments appeared with Neolithic fittings that were implemented on the floor of
the Euphrates Tiger Valley in Mesopotamia. The first copper tools made from local copper ore were produced in
the same way as stone tools in the Neolithic period: striking i.e. People used the cold hammering method in shaping.
The tools include a simple ax and dagger. The nature and the limited number of instruments imply that people at
that time did not know the art of melting, casting, or pouring.
2. Bronze Age- This period saw the birth of civilization and the development of advanced cultures in Europe, the Near
East, and East Asia. Alloying as a metalworking technique is higher in the late copper age, and the bronze is an
alloy of copper and tin. In contrast to copper, soft metals and bronze are very hard. Tin must be mixed with copper
in a ratio of about one-tenth to produce bronze. Higher tin content makes the alloy more brittle. However, bronze
prevails between the Copper Age and the Iron Age, which is why this special period is referred to as the Bronze
Age.
3. Iron Age- Iron is another metal that has achieved the greatest industrial interest in history. It is an extraordinary
material for tools and weapons because it is very rigid. The standard turned out to be higher than bronze, and in the
end, materials like stone, bone, wood, and leather were incomparable. The second advantage is found almost
everywhere.

Culture during Age of Metal

Since the age of metal was divided into three major periods. It is presumed that people during different periods have
different cultures, depending on where they belong.