Final answer:
The gradual improvements in tool making by early humans led to the development of advanced forms of technology, from simple stone tools to sophisticated blade tools, pottery, and the rise of agriculture and civilization in the Neolithic period.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tool making was an important part of early human cultural development. The gradual improvements in tool making led eventually to the development of advanced forms of technology. Our ancestors chipped pieces of flint into useful tools and carved wood into statues and toys, which was a transformative step in shaping the material culture. As humans evolved, they began to change the composition of the substances they used; thus, clay was converted into pottery, hides into garments, copper ores into tools and weapons, and grain into bread.
An important milestone in the technological evolution was the transition to the blade tool industry during the Upper Paleolithic. This change introduced more sophisticated tools like blades, which were more efficient than older tools due to their longer cutting edge. The prepared-core technique, which previously produced pre-shaped flakes, was refined to create pre-shaped blades. The use of different materials like antler, ivory, and bone, also broadened the tool kit available to Homo sapiens.
With the advent of the Neolithic period, humans adopted agriculture and moved from food gathering to food production. They employed advanced stone tools for grinding, chopping, and cutting, fostering cooperation between groups. This period also saw the first formations of civilizations, enhanced by the development of written language and logography, which gave us greater insights into early human life.