Prehistory
Prehistory usually refers to the period of human history before writing. Or more precisely, the period that left no written records that we know about, whether originals or later copies. In Egypt, prehistory would end around 3500 BC. In New Guinea, prehistory would end around 1900. Still earlier periods of time are usually known as geological history.
When did prehistory begin? People disagree. Some would begin it with Homo erectus, around 1.5 million years ago. Others would begin it around 40,000 BC, with the Cro-Magnons.
The sheer scale of prehistory is surprising. From three to 150 human civilizations equal in duration to our own could have been lost in this period.
Prehistory is often subdivided by a three-age system:
- The Stone Ages:
- Paleolithic -- Old Stone Age.
- Mesolithic -- Middle Stone Age.
- Epipalaeolithic -- characterised by the use of microliths, not distinguished by all scholars.
- Neolithic -- Late Stone Age, usually referring to the beginnings of agriculture.
- Chalcolithic or Eneolithic -- mixed stone and metal tools, not a period distinguished by all scholars.
- Bronze Age -- use of copper and/or bronze tools.
- Iron Age -- the Iron Age began around 2200 BC in Turkey and the Caucasus Mountains. It came later to other areas. It didn't come to Polynesia until the coming of the Europeans, between 1500 and 1750.