"The period of human history between the first known use of stone tools by hominins c. 3.3 million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems."
The study of human history before the advent of written records.
Human Evolution: The biological and behavioral changes of hominids over time leading to modern humans.
Stone Age: The period of human history where tools and weapons were primarily made of stone.
Paleolithic Era: The first and longest period of the Stone Age, characterized by hunter-gatherer societies.
Neolithic Era: The second period of the Stone Age when agriculture and domestication of animals were developed.
Megaliths: Large stone structures constructed during the Neolithic period for religious, ceremonial or funereal purposes.
Fertile Crescent: The area in the Middle East that includes modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, where agriculture and civilization first developed.
Agricultural Revolution: The development of agriculture and the domestication of plants and animals, which dramatically transformed human societies.
Indus Valley Civilization: An ancient civilization that flourished in the Indus River Valley, in present-day Pakistan and Northwestern India.
Ancient Egypt: A civilization that developed along the Nile River, known for its pyramids, pharaohs, and hieroglyphic writing.
Bronze Age: The period of human history characterized by the widespread use of bronze for tools and weapons.
Hittites: An ancient civilization that flourished in the eastern Mediterranean region during the Bronze Age.
Minoan civilization: An ancient civilization that developed on the island of Crete, which is known for its intricate art and advanced architecture.
Ancient Greece: A civilization that emerged in the Mediterranean region, known for its democracy, philosophy, and art.
Iron Age: The period of human history characterized by the widespread use of iron for tools and weapons.
Celts: An ancient civilization that dominated most of Europe during the Iron Age.
Scythians: An ancient nomadic civilization that lived in modern-day southern Russia and Central Asia during the Iron Age.
Pre-Columbian Native American societies: The indigenous civilizations of North, Central, and South America before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492.
Mayan Civilization: A rich and complex civilization that developed in Mesoamerica during the pre-Columbian era.
Inca Empire: The largest empire in pre-Columbian America, which developed in the Andes Mountains of Peru.
Easter Island: An isolated island in the Pacific Ocean famous for its mysterious statues called Moai.
Paleolithic Era: This era, also known as the Old Stone Age, lasted from about 2.6 million years ago until about 12,000 BCE. During this time, early human ancestors relied on hunting and gathering for survival, and used rudimentary stone tools for tasks like food preparation and hunting.
Mesolithic Era: This era, also known as the Middle Stone Age, lasted from about 12,000 BCE to about 8,000 BCE. During this period, early humans began to create more advanced tools, such as harpoons and fishing nets.
Neolithic Era: This era, also known as the New Stone Age, lasted from about 8,000 BCE to about 3,000 BCE. During this time, humans began to engage in subsistence agriculture, marking a significant shift from a reliance on hunting and gathering. Additionally, the development of pottery and domesticated animals helped to support human settlements.
Chalcolithic Era: This era, also known as the Copper Age, lasted from about 4,500 BCE to about 3,500 BCE. During this time, humans began to use copper to create tools and weapons, marking the transition from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age.
Bronze Age: This era lasted from about 3,500 BCE to about 1,200 BCE. During this time, humans developed more advanced metallurgy techniques, leading to the creation of weapons and other tools made of bronze. This period saw the rise of early civilizations, such as the Egyptians, the Minoans, and the Mycenaeans.
Iron Age: This era lasted from about 1,200 BCE to about 500 BCE. During this time, humans developed the ability to work with iron, leading to the creation of stronger and more durable tools and weapons. The Iron Age saw the rise of many civilizations, including the Greeks, the Romans, and the Celts.
"The earliest known writing systems appeared c. 5,000 years ago."
"It took thousands of years for writing systems to be widely adopted, with writing spreading to almost all cultures by the 19th century."
"The end of prehistory therefore came at very different times in different places."
"In the early Bronze Age, Sumer in Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley Civilisation, and ancient Egypt were the first civilizations to develop their own scripts and to keep historical records."
"The three-age division of prehistory into Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age remains in use for much of Eurasia and North Africa."
"Oceania, Australasia, much of Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of the Americas."
"For example, 1788 is usually taken as the end of the prehistory of Australia."
"The period when a culture is written about by others, but has not developed its own writing system is often known as the protohistory of the culture."
"These were at first understood by the collection of folklore and by analogy with pre-literate societies observed in modern times."
"The key step to understanding prehistoric evidence is dating."
"More recent techniques include forensic chemical analysis to reveal the use and provenance of materials, and genetic analysis of bones to determine kinship and physical characteristics of prehistoric peoples." Please note that the given paragraph does not have 20 distinct statements or facts that can be turned into study questions.