Final answer:
The Archaeological Division of Prehistory details the developmental stages of early human societies, highlighting transitions through the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods and the evolution of technology, social structures, and early settlements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Archaeological Division of Prehistory:
The Archaeological study of Prehistory is divided into several periods, notably the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic eras. The Paleolithic or Old Stone Age, starting about 2.5 million years ago and lasting until the end of the last Ice Age around 9600 BCE, represents the earliest period where hominins like H. habilis used crude stone tools known as the Oldowan tool industry. By contrast, the Mesolithic period is characterized by the end of the last Ice Age, the beginnings of agriculture, and the domestication of animals, including dogs. Finally, the Neolithic, or New Stone Age, saw farming spread to Western Europe and the construction of large-scale stone structures, like Stonehenge.
Hunter-gatherer societies, characteristic of early human settlements, were notable for their few social divisions. However, as we move into the period of the first civilizations, we see more complex societal structures in places such as Mesopotamia, Mesoamerica, the Andes, and China. These civilizations, dating from around 5000 BCE to 1900 BCE, developed farming, irrigation, and the Bronze Age followed, signaling a leap in technological capacity.
The archaeological record from these time periods provides evidence of the development of early societies, revealing changes in culture, social structures, languages, spiritual beliefs, and technological innovations, such as pottery and stone tools, that point to the growing complexity and interconnection of human communities before recorded history.