2.01: How Long is Long?

Writing has existed as long as language.

The period after we have written records is called history.

Scientists and historians think that the period between the first stone tools and agriculture lasted __________ years.

Put these events in chronological order:

We learn about prehistory primarily through art and artifact sources.

Humans developed agriculture pretty quickly after developing stone tools.

The time since the development of writing is about as long as the time before the development of writing.

On this timeline, what is period B?

We have no sources from the period we call prehistory.

On this timeline, what is period A?

What happened in about 3200 BC that was so important that we call everything before then by a special name?

Throughout prehistoric and historic times, humans have made technological advances at a steady rate.

A few letters, diaries, and written inscriptions survive from prehistory.

The period before we have written records is called prehistory.