In Europe and Africa the Middle Paleolithic (or Middle Palaeolithic) is the period of the middle Paleolithic (early Stone Age) that lasted between around 120,000 and 40,000 years ago.

It was the time when early hominids gained increasing control over their surroundings and later saw the emergence of modern humans around 100,000 years ago.

Stone tool manufacturing developed a more sophisticated toolmaking technique known as the prepared-core technique which permitted the creation of more controlled and consistent flakes. These could be hafted onto wooden shafts as arrows to form more efficient composite tools .

Hunting provided the primary food source but people also began to exploit shellfish and may have begun smoking and drying meat to preserve it. This would have required a mastery of fire and some sites indicate that plant resources were managed through selective burning of wide areas.

Artistic expression emerged for the first time with ochre used as body paint and some early rock art appearing. There is also some evidence of purposeful burial of the dead which may indicate religious and ritual behaviours.