Prehistory

ancient history · early humans · stone tools · no writing

Stone tools started it. About 3.3 million years ago, early human ancestors called hominins began making and using the first stone tools. This moment marks the beginning of prehistory and shows that humans were getting smarter and more skilled.

Writing changed everything. Prehistory ended around 5,200 years ago when humans invented writing systems. Once people could write things down and read them later, historians could study recorded history instead of just guessing from old bones and artifacts.

Different times, different places. Prehistory didn't end at the same time everywhere on Earth. Some cultures invented writing thousands of years before others, so prehistory lasted much longer in some places than in others.

Symbols came first. Long before writing, early humans used symbols, marks, and images to communicate and express themselves. These early drawings show that humans were creative thinkers even before they developed full writing systems.

Protohistory bridges the gap. When one culture wrote about another culture that hadn't invented its own writing yet, that in-between period is called protohistory. It's like having someone else tell your story before you can write it yourself.