Prehistory

human history · stone tools · ancient times · no writing

Stone tools started it. The very beginning of prehistory was when early humans first made and used stone tools about 3.3 million years ago. This was a huge deal because tools let them hunt, build, and survive better.

Pictures came first. Long before writing, people were making symbols, marks, and pictures to communicate and tell stories. Cave paintings and carved images show that humans were creative and wanted to share ideas.

Writing changed everything. Real writing systems only appeared around 5,200 years ago, which marked the end of prehistory. Once people could write down their thoughts, they could record history and keep track of important information forever.

Different places, different times. Prehistory didn't end at the same time everywhere on Earth. Some cultures invented writing early, while others stayed in prehistory much longer, so the end date depends on where you look.

Protohistory in between. Sometimes a culture got written about by other people but hadn't invented their own writing yet. This in-between period is called protohistory, and it helps us understand cultures we would otherwise know nothing about.