Map Introduction

Primitive Society (c. 1.7 million BCE – 21st century BCE) represents the first form of community established by humans after branching off from apes, marking the initial stage of human history.

To date, no ethnic group in the world has been found that did not experience Primitive Society. Its emergence coincided with the very appearance of humankind. However, its dissolution occurred at varying times across different regions. Human productivity during this era was extremely low, and the means of production were communally owned. As productivity levels gradually improved and surplus products emerged, wealth disparity and private ownership arose. This disrupted the earlier relations of collective distribution and collective labor, ultimately leading to the replacement of Primitive Society by class-based societies.

Paleolithic Age (c. 3 million years ago – c. 10,000 years ago) is a stage of human material cultural development characterized by the use of chipped stone tools. Geologically, this period belongs to the late Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs, beginning approximately 3 million years ago and lasting until around 10,000 years ago.

Related Maps * Location of the Early Site of the Primitive Society Zhoukoudian Site * Site Map of the Early Site of the Primitive Society