The Ways We Are

     Paleolithic societies were largely nomadic, therefore transportation of goods, if they had any surplus goods, was impossible. Also, these groups were very involved in personal relationships since each group consisted of only about twenty-five to fifty people. Because of these conditions, Paleolithic societies were very much egalitarian. Therefore, these people were free of the injustices and tyranny associated with a more civilized society. Although everyone was treated equally since there were no specialized jobs or leaders, men took on the role of hunters while women were the gatherers. This resulted in the idea of masculinity involving the killing of large animals. While the idea of a life free of the injustices of the modern world may seem like a utopia, these Paleolithic societies were not always harmonious. Men often engaged in bloody combat for a woman, while many of the men publicly beat their wives. Additionally, executions of disruptive individuals were common, proving that these societies had a problem with violence.

     Contrary to the impoverished view that modern people have on them, the hunter-gatherers actually had fewer working hours since they only worked to meet their material needs, thus leading to more leisure time. Granted, their life expectancy was low and were at the mercy of Mother Nature. However, the Paleolithic also substantially altered the environment around them, causing the landscape around them to change and led to the extinction of multiple species.

     While hard to pin down, there is evidence pointing to the fact that Paleolithic people did have a form of spiritual life removed from their ordinary lives, such as the presence of rock art in caves suggesting that there was a "ceremonial space" for these people. Due to the abundance of Venus figurines found in the areas inhabited by Paleolithic people, scholars believe that they worshiped a higher deity or Great Goddess, and had a cyclical view of time, as opposed to time moving in a straight line towards a goal that later Western civilizations were associated with.

     Over time, humans began to miniaturize their tools, analogous to the miniaturization of electronic components in the modern world. Also, due to the end of the Ice Age, species who were not able to survive the cold climate now flourished in the warmer climates. Because of the higher survival rate, societies were becoming larger and, therefore, had to settle down. This resulted in a gradual increase of inequality due to some individuals being more energetic or just plain lucky to come out on top. Interestingly, these people also created elaborate burial sites, meaning that there must have been a kinship or connection between the people. A separate burial site for dogs suggest that they were the first domesticated animal. One of the most amazing achievements of the Paleolithic people is the Gobekli Tepe, a ceremonial site in southern Turkey. This site involves construction long associated with agricultural societies exclusively, thus prompting speculation of the capabilities of the Paleolithic people.