The Stone Age is a pivotal era in human history marked by the development of tool-making and the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to more complex civilizations. It is divided into three main periods: the Paleolithic Age, which lasted from approximately 2.6 million to 300,000 years ago, where early humans created crude stone tools and lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers; the Mesolithic Age, serving as a transitional phase with improved stone tools; and the Neolithic Age, from around 8,000 BC to 4,000 BC, characterized by the Neolithic Revolution. This period saw a major shift to systematic agriculture, the domestication of plants and animals, and the establishment of permanent settlements, leading to the development of complex social structures and technological advancements.

The Neolithic Revolution had profound impacts on human society, facilitating food production and the emergence of social hierarchies and governance structures. In regions like Ethiopia, evidence suggests the Neolithic Age began around 7,000 years ago, with significant archaeological sites highlighting key developments in agriculture and culture. As communities evolved, the transition to organized states occurred, defined by population, territory, government, sovereignty, and recognition. Various theories explain the emergence of states, including the roles of religion, agriculture, trade control, and conflict, marking a significant evolution in human social organization.