Prehistory

Lower Paleolithic

250,000 BCE

this was the longuer of the three periods. The hominids learnt to carve stone. These tools are called bifaces

Middle Palaeolithic

45,000 BCE

They perfected tool-making and used smaller stone chips for carving. They began using other materials, like bone, and created new utensils: knives, arrowheads, harpoons for fishing, and sewing needles.

Upper Palaeolithic

8000 BCE

The first spiritual and artistic expressions appeared. They made stone figures representing Venus, the goddess of fertility.

Copper Age

4000 BCE

Copper tools and weapons were very fragile.

Bronze Age

3000 BCE

Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, was more resistant. They used it to make farming tools and sophisticated weapons.

Iron Age

1000 BCE

Iron was more abundant and resistant the the previous metals.