The document summarizes human pre-history from the Paleolithic period through early civilizations. During the Paleolithic period, humans used simple tools and lived as hunter-gatherers. The Neolithic period saw the development of agriculture around 10,000 BCE in the Middle East, which led to permanent farming villages and more complex societies. As populations grew and societies specialized during the Bronze and Iron Ages, the first civilizations emerged with cities, writing systems, and monumental architecture.