Prehistoric: 12 Things to Know about the Mesolithic Age

The Prehistoric series is about early humans, the world they lived in, and the lives they led. It spans the Paleolithic Era (the Old Stone Age) through the Iron Age; from about 3.3 million years ago to about 1,000 years ago; from when humans first used stone tools to just before they began writing their history. In broad strokes and vivid examples, the series describes where and how these early people lived, the tools they used, the challenges of everyday life, and the development of culture, art, religion, and civilizations. Each title includes a timeline of major events. In the Middle Stone Age, change happened everywhere, but at different times in different places. Chapters cover how Mesolithic people shaped flints into scrapers and sharp tips for arrows and spears, how they began domesticating animals, how they started building more permanent settlements, and how they drew other humans, maybe as an early way of writing. Each chapter includes attention-grabbing photos and fascinating facts. Sidebars go deeper, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. A Timeline of the Mesolithic Era gives a big-picture view.