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Iron brought forth new agricultural techniques to require less labor for farmers. Iron was also very cheap, even peasants were able to afford the material in order to make special tools. Growth in crop led to a dramatic growth in the population, causing cities to expand. Class systems became very apparent, and trade groups and empires formed and increased greatly with the introduction of iron.

Culturally, the invention of the alphabet led to literacy for those in the middle or upper classes. Coined money was forged and used. Iron played a huge role in expanding education, trade, population growth and many other factors.

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/essay/anthropology/3-major-periods-of-metal-age-copper-bronze-and-iron-age/41651/

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This age brought many changes to the cultures in Europe. Warfare changed, as new tools and weapons were created. In order to protect oneself, archaeologists find evidence of prehistoric people discovering the use of helmets and shields. People defending those who were in the same group, which led to a large increase in cities and settlements in one area. During this period we continue to see an increase in trade routes and with that, a migration of the Bronze Age moving northward and westward.

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/essay/anthropology/3-major-periods-of-metal-age-copper-bronze-and-iron-age/41651/

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As time goes on from the Mesolithic period, people groups started to develop more territorial patterns. As more permanent settlements formed, we find more social organization. Common storage facilities were found, most likely used for food storage, as houses did not have proper places to store food. A hierarchy must have been in place for people in power to divide food among people in the community.

Archaeologists excavate more and more graves and organized burial. This also tells us more about the difference between poor and wealthy, as the wealthy were buried with gold, tools, etc. Some graves were found without skelotons, which could have been a way to demonstrate wealth even before death.

This is also the time that the mysterious megaliths were most likely put up as monuments.

Scarre, Christopher., and Laporte, Luc. The Megalithic Architectures of Europe. Havertown: Oxbow Books, 2015.

http://www.ancient.eu/Neolithic/

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Mesolithic art is predominately geometric. The color spectrum is limited, so we see many shades of red. One of the most famous archaeological sites in England is Star Carr. There, archaeologists discovered decorative red deer antlers, and different domesticated animal bones.

http://archaeology.about.com/od/mesolithicarchaic/qt/Mesolithic.htm

http://archaeology.about.com/od/sterms/qt/star_carr.htm

http://www.boscorf.org/boscorf/sites/boscorf.org/f/mesolithic.jpg

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Roughly 10,000 BP

During this time period, the region experienced the most physical change regarding landscape. Rising sea levels caused land bridges to disappear, while in other areas, sea levels greatly decreased due to retreating glaciers, which is what caused the high cliffs in Scandinavia today.

Culture: Small, stone tools first began to emerge, along with small amounts of animal and agriculture domestication. Fishing near the ocean, and hunting became much more common. People in this time period started to settle, but moved around quite often with the seasons, or by following the animal migration patterns.

http://archaeology.about.com/od/mesolithicarchaic/qt/Mesolithic.htm

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1,000-100 BC

One of the most commonly known time periods in ancient history is the Iron Age, specifically with the rise of the Roman Empire. Out of the three metals, Iron is the strongest. Even more weapons were created such as swords made of iron. Iron work came so much later because it required hotter temperatures to manipulate, and bronze workers saw no profit right away.

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/essay/anthropology/3-major-periods-of-metal-age-copper-bronze-and-iron-age/41651/

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2,100-700 BC
Bronze is formed when copper is mixed with tin. The discovery, or creation of this combination led to a stronger material overall, which benefited tool making. Tools lasted longer with the added tin because it was more durable that copper alone. During the Copper Age, the metal was first used for paint or decoration, it was not until the Bronze Age that it was used with tin for industrialized use.

Sarkar, Jitendu. 3 Major Period of Metal Age: Copper, Bronze and Iron Age. Your Article Library. Accessed August 7, 2016.
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/essay/anthropology/3-major-periods-of-metal-age-copper-bronze-and-iron-age/41651/

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6,000-2,000 BP

This time period is known for the introduction of copper in this region, especially copper tools. It is also sometimes referred to as the beginning of the urban revolution. The technique for using and making tools remained generally the same, as the art of smelting, casting and molding was not discovered until a great deal of time later, near the end of the Copper Age.

Trade became much more common throughout all of Europe, especially by water.

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/essay/anthropology/3-major-periods-of-metal-age-copper-bronze-and-iron-age/41651/

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22,000- 6,500 BP

This time period began after the Mesolithic period, and in some parts of Europe the two periods overlapped. It is commonly known as the New Stone Age.

Archaeologists find the first exotic goods being traded, as well as an increase in agriculture practices, and new stone tools. More art discoveries appear, but the time period is not clear. Since these periods overlap, different pottery in different regions could either be from Neolithic or Mesolithic.

http://www.ancient.eu/Neolithic/

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Prehistoric Europe experienced a large difference in climate over the years, as well as vast topography. This area consists of a small part of the Arctic in the north and stretches to the Mediterranean in the south and west to the Atlantic. The shape and landscape of this region was greatly influenced by the last Ice Age, as the ice melted, or retreated towards the Arctic, it carved the land.

(Scarre p. 393).