The Middle Paleolithic is a period in human prehistory that spans from approximately 300,000 to 30,000 years ago, characterized by the development of Neanderthal and early modern human cultures, particularly the Mousterian tool industry. This era is marked by significant advancements in technology, social behavior, and cognitive skills, laying the groundwork for the Upper Paleolithic and the eventual rise of Homo sapiens as the dominant human species.