Final answer:
Christian Jergensen Thomsen's three-age system categorizes prehistory into the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age, based on the primary materials used to create tools and is seen as a linear progression of technological advancements reflecting changes in human societal development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Christian Jergensen Thomsen's three-age system was an early framework for understanding human prehistory, based on the technological advancements within human societies. Thomsen's system divides prehistory into three sequential ages named for their respective dominant tool-making materials: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. This classification is grounded on the notion that societal development followed a linear path, with each age representing a significant step forward in the technology and, by extension, the complexity and ability of societies to manipulate their environment and resources.
The Stone Age is characterized by the use of stone tools and is the longest of the three ages. The subsequent Bronze Age saw the development and spread of metalworking, allowing for more durable and varied tools and weapons. Finally, the Iron Age brought with it even stronger and more widespread use of metal, further enhancing human capability.
The way human life is organized, including societal structure and cultural practices, is inherently linked to the technology that is available. As each material was harnessed, new potentials for human life emerged, aligning with Thomsen's perspective that human progress can be charted through this technological lens.