During which age did humans live as nomads, hunting and gathering food?

The Paleolithic Age, often referred to as the Old Stone Age, is the period during which humans predominantly lived as nomads, relying on hunting and gathering for food. This age encompasses the time from roughly 2.5 million years ago until about 10,000 BCE. During this era, early humans formed small groups and moved frequently to follow animal herds and seasonal vegetation, reflecting a lifestyle that depended on direct interaction with the natural environment.

In stark contrast, the Neolithic Age marked a significant shift, where agricultural practices began to take root, leading to settled communities and farming. The Bronze Age followed, characterized by the use of metal tools and the rise of urban centers, while the Iron Age brought about advancements in iron metallurgy and further societal developments. Therefore, the nomadic lifestyle associated with hunting and gathering is distinctly tied to the Paleolithic Age, which set the foundation for human development before the agricultural transformations of later periods.