Prehistory

Prehistory is the time before people knew how to write things down. It started when early humans first made stone tools about 3.3 million years ago and lasted until writing began. Writing started around 5,200 years ago, but it spread slowly, so prehistory ended at different times in different places.

We learn about prehistory by looking at things people left behind, like tools, bones, and buildings. These objects tell us how people lived long ago, even though we do not know their names. For example, we might find engraved images of animals on antler or massive stone pillars at places like Göbekli Tepe in Turkey.

Prehistory is divided into three main parts based on the materials used to make tools: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. During the Stone Age, early humans used stone tools and lived by hunting and gathering food. They also made art, like cave paintings.

People in different parts of the world experienced prehistory in their own special ways. In the Old World, which includes Africa, Asia, and Europe, important places to study include Prehistoric China and the Prehistoric Caucasus. In the New World, such as the Americas, and places like Oceania, including Australia and New Zealand, people also lived through prehistory. Each of these places helps us understand early human history better.

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