Daily Life In The Upper Paleolithic Age

      Perhaps the greatest change brought about by the Great Leap Forward was the development of human societies, over the course of what we call the Paleolithic Age. This term comes from the Greek words paleo, meaning "old," and lithos, "stone," and, hence, an alternative title is the "Old Stone Age."

      Human societies would grow in complexity and develop social hierarchies, alliances, marriage customs, religious rituals, and a refined sense of artistic beauty. 

      During the Upper Paleolithic period (50 000 to 10 000 years ago) people lived in small groups or bands of five to ten families. They were nomadic or semi-nomadic and lived by hunting and gathering. They were very aware of their surroundings and in tune with nature. Since success often depended on a communal effort, the social relationships within the band were also close. 

      Unlike the earlier Neanderthals, early modern humans such as the Cro-Magnons in Europe carefully cultivated relationships with other bands, sometimes scattered over hundreds of kilometres. Each year, likely in the summer or early fall, several bands would come together to arrange marriages, barter for raw materials, weapons, clothing or other goods, and carry out initiation rites. In order to keep the bloodline strong, it was important that the young people marry outside their own band, and at these gatherings of as many as several hundred people, marriages were arranged. Bands formed alliances with the exchange of exotic goods ranging from sharksi teeth and shells to Baltic amber. As winter neared, the bands would disperse to the protected valleys where they had stored food and could find some protection from the icy winter winds. 

      Another sign of the increasing complexity of Paleolithic groups was the stratification of society. there was leadership now, and the beginnings of social class. We find evidence of social hierarchy in the great variations in Paleolithic graves. For the first time in human history, personal adornment begin to appear, and it was by no means equally enjoyed. Hierarchy within Paleolithic societies had much to do with age and experience, and with gender, as men began to exercise control over society. Wisdom and knowledge came to be prized traits, along with the essential, qualities for effective leadership.

Writing: ECHOES from the Past published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.