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3. Revolutions

The first great revolution was the start of the Paleolithic era.

Approximately 1.5 million years ago, a new hominid species, Homo erectus, emerged. Archeological evidence shows that Homo erectus used fire, created seasonal camps and started producing more sophisticated stone tools than their predecessors. This was made possible by their greater manual dexterity and developments in the brain. It has been suggested that the practice of male-female pair bonding and the emergence of family structures appeared around this time. When Homo neanderthalis (Neanderthals) emerged towards the end of the Paleolithic era, there was an increase in group sizes from 40 - 60 to 120 - 160. (Massey, 2002). The beginnings of a more secure life were emerging, as human beings started to have a greater command over nature.

Early man

What are the main environmental characteristics of the cultural revolution?