Final answer:
The Mesolithic Age differed from the Upper Paleolithic with smaller stone tools, a focus on hunter-gatherer lifestyle, domestication of the dog, and set the stage for the agricultural practices of the Neolithic period.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparison of the Mesolithic Age to the Upper Paleolithic
The Mesolithic Age was distinct from the Upper Paleolithic in several key ways. Firstly, there was a transition from larger stone tools to finer, smaller tools called microliths. During the Mesolithic, there was more emphasis on a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, as opposed to the large group hunts for herd animals that were more common in the Upper Paleolithic. Significant changes in the climate led to the Ice Age glaciers receding, creating new environments and opportunities for human societies to evolve and adapt.
Another difference was the emergence of more settled lifestyles which set the stage for the Neolithic period. The use of materials also diversified with increased use of bone, antler, and even the domestication of the dog occurring in the Mesolithic. Art saw a dip in quantity compared to the Upper Paleolithic, where cave art and Venus figurines flourished. However, significant artifacts and pottery unique to this middle period still stand as a testament to the cultural adaptations of the era.
The Neolithic Age marked the end of the Mesolithic with the introduction of crop cultivation and animal husbandry, signifying a pivotal transition from mobile hunter-gatherer groups to agrarian societies with permanent settlements. While the Mesolithic Age acted as a bridge between the Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic, it was characterized by unique adaptations and technologies that responded to changing environmental and social conditions.