The three main differences were in the Bronze age:
A shift from hunting/gathering to agricultural societies occurred.
The origins of government and social organization.
Travel due to trade/commerce began.
Before the bronze age, early man lived in small nomadic groups, moving from place to place in search of food and shelter. With the advent of metal tools, man was able to more easily cultivate the land. With cultivation came more "leisure" time since food didn't have to be hunted or gathered. This "leisure" time afforded early man the capability to establish early government and social organization as well as trade routes.
