What are the differences between a spear and a harpoon? How did their invention change people’s lives?

The spear was invented by ancient people back in the Middle Paleolithic period. At that time, it was a great technological leap forward. The spear was very convenient for repelling the attacks of wild animals; it was also used as a throwing means in hunting large herbivores (mammoths, bison, etc.). Also, after the spear, a harpoon appeared, which was intended for fishing. Its difference from the usual spear was that it had spikes along the blade, which did not allow the fish to “move out” after the hunter had successfully hit the target.