👉 The preclassic period, also known as the Middle Stone Age or early Iron Age, is a time of significant cultural and economic development in Europe and North Africa from around 1000 BCE to 650 CE. It was characterized by a decline in the importance of agriculture and trade, with more emphasis on hunting and gathering, and a focus on hunter-gatherer societies. The preclassic period is often seen as a transitional period between the Iron Age and the medieval period, with