Prehistory


This section deals with the earliest history of humankind as it has been and is being reconstructed from studies of archaeology and anthropology. The divisions are early, middle, and late prehistory. As details are added from archeological and anthropological studies, this picture of the human past is likely to change and become clearer, although the broad outlines are reasonably well established.	Sapience Home Site Map About Sapience History
Much of the history of this period is given in terms of periods, including the Paleolithic (Old Stone age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone age), Neolithic (New Stone age), and Chalcolithic (Copper-stone age). These periods are are overlapping, vary from place to place, and not well defined, since they have more to do with assemblages of artifacts than chronology. Early and middle prehistory dates are approximate and are given in years BP, that is Before Present (2000). The regular modern calendar is used beginning with late prehistory, so that 10,000 years BP corresponds to 8000 BC.

This section deals with the earliest history of humankind as it has been and is being reconstructed from studies of archaeology and anthropology. The divisions are early, middle, and late prehistory. As details are added from archeological and anthropological studies, this picture of the human past is likely to change and become clearer, although the broad outlines are reasonably well established.

History

Much of the history of this period is given in terms of periods, including the Paleolithic (Old Stone age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone age), Neolithic (New Stone age), and Chalcolithic (Copper-stone age). These periods are are overlapping, vary from place to place, and not well defined, since they have more to do with assemblages of artifacts than chronology.

Early and middle prehistory dates are approximate and are given in years BP, that is Before Present (2000). The regular modern calendar is used beginning with late prehistory, so that 10,000 years BP corresponds to 8000 BC.

Early prehistory (Before 50,000 years ago)

This period includes the development of humankind as accepted by anthropologists. Divisions will include the Pliocene from 5 million to 2 million years ago, when Australopithecines were predominant. The Early pleistocene from 2 million to 1 million years ago includes species now called Homo Habilis. The early middle Pleistocene, from 1 million to 500, 000 years ago includes species now called Homo Erectus. The early middle Pleistocene from 500,000 to 100,000 years ago includes what is called Neanderthal man. The late Pleistocene from 100,000 to 50,000 years ago can perhaps be associated with the earliest known origins of what is called anatomically modern man.

Middle prehistory (50,000 - 10,000) years ago

At present I do not have details of the 5th decamillennium BP. The oldest known remains of anatomically and culturally modern man, as far as I have been able to determine, date from the 4th decamillennium BP, about 40-35,000 years ago, in North Africa and Iran. Between 35-30,000 years ago, there was still evidence of Neanderthal man in Europe, but Cro-Magnon cultures appeared there, as well as somewhat similar cultures in the Middle East. In the 3rd decamillennium BP, Between 30-25,000 years ago, Neanderthal man disappeared from the archeological record, but the record concerning other stone age cultures is somewhat scanty. Between 25-20,000 years ago, cultures were still considered upper stone age. There may have been limited migration into the Americas. In the 2nd decamillennium BP, between 20-15,000 years ago, modern man spread into Australia. Between 15-10 thousand years ago, the last ice age was coming to an end. Cultures called Mesolithic (middle stone age) were arising in Europe and the Middle East, while China, Japan, and central Asia were being inhabited. It is generally thought that the Americas were first populated during this period, by way of a fairly short-lived land bridge from Asia.

Late prehistory (8000 BC - 5000 BC)

The dating scheme shifts in this period, to the conventional historical periods. In the early 8th millennium BC from about 8000 BC to about 7500 BC, Neolithic (New stone age) cultures developed in the Middle East. There is evidence of domestication of sheep and goats, and the beginnings of settled agriculture. In the late 8th millennium BC from about 7500 BC to 7000 BC, these development continued, notably at Jericho (in modern Palestine), but also in other areas. In the early 7th millennium BC from 7000 to 6500 BC, pottery and weaving appeared in the archeological record. In the late 7th millennium BC between 6500 and 6000 BC, settlement at Jericho declined, but the site called Catal Huyuk in modern Turkey) became prominent. In the early 6th millennium BC from 6000 BC to 5500 BC, islands in the Eastern Mediterranean were first settled, farming began in Southeast Europe, and at Halaf in Mesopotamia, and animal and plant domestication began in the New World. In the late 6th millennium BC from 5500 BC to 5000 BC, Farming apeared in Italy and southwest Europe and along the Nile River, appeared further south at Hassuna in Mesopotamia, and at Samarra in southern Mesopotamia, irrigated farming made its appearance.


Other History Events of this period are followed immediately by antiquity. Some information about prehistory was probably lost and forgotten in the classical and medieval period. In modern times, archaeology is the best available method for reconstructing events of this period. Antiquity Limited or no information about early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory is available from antiquity. Prehistory is immediately followed by the 5th Millennium BC, including the early 5th millennium BC, early mid 5th millennium BC, mid 5th millennium BC, late mid 5th millennium BC, and late 5th millennium BC. Information about it was increasingly lost in the 4th millennium BC including the early 4th millennium BC, early mid 4th millennium BC, mid 4th millennium BC, late mid 4th millennium BC, and late 4th millennium BC. The 3rd millennium BC including the early 3rd millennium BC, the early mid 3rd millennium BC, the mid 3rd millennium BC, and the late mid 3rd millennium BC can be connected. The late 3rd millennium BC can be connected. 2nd millennium BC The early 2nd millennium BC can be connected. The early mid 2nd millennium BC can be connected. The mid 2nd millennium BC can be connected. The late mid 2nd millennium BC can be connected. The late 2nd millennium BC can be connected. Early 1st millennium BC Only limited information about prehistory is available from the 1st millennium BC. The 10th century BC can be connected. The 9th century BC can be connected. The 8th century BC can be connected. The 7th century BC can be connected. The 6th century BC can be connected.	Links to other sites History of Archaeology- Wikipedia US Census Bureau - Historical Estimates of World Population HistoryWiz - The Ancient World. This is rather weak on prehistory. WWW VL - Prehistory. Timeline: 200,000-4000 BC Ancient History Infoplease.com Wikipedia - Paleolithic Wikipeda - Recent African Origins Wikipedia - Early Homo Sapiens Wikipedia - Early Human migrations Timelines of History- 1 Million to 3300 BC
Classical and medieval history Limited or no information about early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory is available from classical and medieval times. Early classical history The 5th century BC can be connected. The 4th century BC can be connected. The 3rd century BC can be connected. The 2nd century BC can be connected. The 1st century BC can be considered. Late classical history The 1st century CE can be connected. The 2nd century CE can be connected. The 3rd century CE can be connected. The 4th century CE can be considered. The 5th century CE can be connected. Early medieval Biblical and classical sources were more or less taken for granted in this period. The 6th century can be connected. The 7th century can be connected. The 8th century can be connected. The 9th century can be connected. The 10th century can be connected. Late medieval history Late medieval history has been connected to late prehistory. Biblical and classical sources for prehistory were taken for granted. The 11th century can be connected. The 12th century can be connected. The 13th century can be connected. The 14th century can be connected. The 15th century can be connected. Modern history More information about early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory is available from modern times. 16th century Little information was available about early prehistory, middle prehistory or late prehistory, and Biblical and classical sources were accepted with little question. The early 16th century including the early 1500s, late 1500s, early 1510s, and late 1510s can be connected. The early mid 16th century including the early 1520s, late 1520s, early 1530s, and late 1530s can be connected. The mid 16th century including the early 1540s, late 1540s, early 1550s, and late 1550s can be connected. The late mid 16th century including the early 1560s, late 1560s, early 1570s, and late 1570s can be connected. The late 16th century including the early 1580s, late 1580s, early 1590s, and late 1590s can be connected. 17th century Little information was available about early prehistory, middle prehistory, or late prehistory, and Biblical and classical sources were accepted with little question. The early 17th century including the early 1600s, late 1600s, early 1610s, and late 1610s can be connected. The early mid 17th century including the early 1620s, late 1620s, early 1630s, and late 1630s can be connected. The mid 17th century including the early 1640s, late 1640s, early 1650s, and late 1650s can be connected. The late mid 17th century including the early 1660s, late 1660s, early 1670s, and late 1670s can be connected. The late 17th century including the early 1680s, late 1680s, early 1690s, and late 1690s can be connected. 18th century Prehistory was much discussed during the 18th century, and there was some question about classical and Biblical source material for early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory. The early 18th century including the early 1700s, late 1700s, early 1710s, and late 1710s can be connected. The early mid 18th century including the early 1720s, late 1720s, early 1730s, and late 1730s can be connected. The mid 18th century including the early 1740s, late 1740s, early 1750s, and late 1750s can be connected. The late mid 18th century including the early 1760s, late 1760s, early 1770s, and late 1770s can be connected. The late 18th century including the early 1780s, late 1780s, early 1790s, and late 1790s can be connected. 19th century The modern sciences of anthropology and archaeology developedand began to replace older views. More information about early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory was copiled. I have little information on their development in the early 19th century including the early 1800s, late 1800s, early 1810s, and late 1810s. In the early mid 19th century, a three-age classification of artifacts (stone, bronze, iron) was a significant step in organizing archaeological information. The early 1820s, late 1820s, early 1830s, and late 1830s can be connected. In the mid 19th century, the early 1840s, late 1850s, and early 1850s can be connected. In the late 1850s, the discovery of Neanderthal man in 1857 marks a beginning of one kind. This helped stir interest in the subject. In the late mid 19th century, Darwin's publication of "the Descent of Man" in 1871 was an important step in scientific anthropology. The early 1860s, late 1860s, early 1870s, late 1870s, and early 1880s can be connected. In the late 19th century, prehistoric anthropology became increasingly significant. I do not yet have details of the early 1880s, late 1880s, early 1890s, or late 1890s. 20th century Archeological and anthropological reconstruction of early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory continued to develop. In the early 20th century, archeological methods continued to develop. I do not yet have details of the early 1910s, late 1910s, early 1920s, or late 1920. I do not yet have many details of the early mid 20th century including the early 1920s, late 1920s, early 1930s, or late 1930s. In the mid 20th century, the introduction of radiocarbon dating made more accurate chronologies of late prehistory possible. I do not yet have specific details of the early 1940s, late 1940s, early 1950s, or late 1950s. In the late mid 20th century, methods appropriate to dating of earlier remains were found, as well as major new discoveries. I do not yet have details of the early 1960s, late 1960s. In the early 1970s, "Lucy" was unearthed in 1974. I do not yet have details of the late 1970s. In the late 20th century including the early 1980s developments are still fairly recent. The late 1980s including 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 can be connected. The early 1990s including 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995 can be connected. The late 1990s including 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 can be connected. Early 21st century I do not yet have a good summary of the most recent events in the stud of prehistory. The best information has been slow to make it to the general public, and there is a great deal of confusion and misinformation about prehistory. The early 2000s including 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 can be connected. The late 2000s including 2006 and 2007 can be connected. 2008 including the first quarter 2008, second quarter 2008, third quarter 2008, and fourth quarter 2008 can be connected. 2009 including the first quarter 2009, second quarter 2009, third quarter 2009, and fourth quarter 2009 can be connected. 2010 including the first quarter 2010, second quarter 2010, and third quarter 2010 can be connected. The fourth quarter 2010 can be connected. October 2010 including 2010 week 40, 2010 week 41, 2010 week 42, 2010 week 43, 2010 week 44, and 2010 week 45 can be connected. November 2010 including 2010 week 45, 2010 week 46, 2010 week 47, 2020 week 48, and 2010 week 49 can be connected. December 2010 including 2010 week 49, 2010 week 50, 2010 week 51, 2010 week 52, and 2010 week 53 can be connected. The early 2010s can be connected. 2011 can be connected. The first quarter 2011 can be connected. January 2011 including 2011 week 1, 2011 week 2, 2011 week 3, 2011 week 4, 2011 week 5, and 2011 week 6 can be connected. February 2011 including 2011 week 6, 2011 week 7, 2011 week 8, 2011 week 9, and 2011 week 10 can be connected. March 2011 including 2011 week 10, 2011 week 11, 2011 week 12, 2011 week 13, and 2011 week 14 can be connected. The second quarter 2011 can be connected. April 2011 including 2011 week 14, 2011 week 15, 2011 week 16, 2011 week 17, and 2011 week 18 can be connected. May 2011 including 2011 week 19, 2011 week 20, 2011 week 21, 2011 week 22, and 2011 week 23 can be connected. June 2011 including 2011 week 23, 2011 week 25, 2011 week 25, 2011 week 26, and 2011 week 27 can be connected. The third quarter 2011 can be connected. July 2011 including 2011 week 23, 2011 week 24, 2011 week 25, 201 week 26, and 2011 week 27 can be connected. August 2011 and September 2011 can be connected. The fourth quarter 2011 including October 2011, November 2011, and December 2011 not yet well known. Future The future of these studies is obscure. The near future including next month, next quarter, and next year can be connected. The middle future including the next 5 years, next 20 years, next century, and next 500 years can be considered. The far future including the next 2 millennia, next 10,000 years, next 200,000 years, next million years, and beyond the next million years is obscure. Sociology Prehistory depends heavily on sociology. Peoples of the world are highly important. Most communities of this period were small and do not appear on a list of major cities. Principles of social structure and change are especially important in examination of early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory. Institutions The social institutions of religion, government, economics, education, and families can be used to examine early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory, although modern institutions often influence investigations of this period. Culture Culture including behavioral culture, conceptual culture, and material culture can be applied to and used in the study of early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory. Anthropology Particular groups, human geography, human ecology, physical anthropology, demography, and social foundations will be useful in examination of early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory. Personal studies Biography, psychology, and the human body can be used to examine early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory. Science Physical and natural science including biology, earth science, astronomy, chemistry, and physics can be used to examine early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory.

Other History

Events of this period are followed immediately by antiquity. Some information about prehistory was probably lost and forgotten in the classical and medieval period. In modern times, archaeology is the best available method for reconstructing events of this period.

Antiquity

Limited or no information about early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory is available from antiquity.

Prehistory is immediately followed by the 5th Millennium BC, including the early 5th millennium BC, early mid 5th millennium BC, mid 5th millennium BC, late mid 5th millennium BC, and late 5th millennium BC. Information about it was increasingly lost in the 4th millennium BC including the early 4th millennium BC, early mid 4th millennium BC, mid 4th millennium BC, late mid 4th millennium BC, and late 4th millennium BC.

The 3rd millennium BC including the early 3rd millennium BC, the early mid 3rd millennium BC, the mid 3rd millennium BC, and the late mid 3rd millennium BC can be connected. The late 3rd millennium BC can be connected.

2nd millennium BC

The early 2nd millennium BC can be connected. The early mid 2nd millennium BC can be connected. The mid 2nd millennium BC can be connected. The late mid 2nd millennium BC can be connected. The late 2nd millennium BC can be connected.

Early 1st millennium BC

Only limited information about prehistory is available from the 1st millennium BC.

The 10th century BC can be connected. The 9th century BC can be connected. The 8th century BC can be connected. The 7th century BC can be connected. The 6th century BC can be connected.

Links to other sites
History of Archaeology- Wikipedia
US Census Bureau - Historical Estimates of World Population
HistoryWiz - The Ancient World. This is rather weak on prehistory.
WWW VL - Prehistory.
Timeline: 200,000-4000 BC
Ancient History Infoplease.com
Wikipedia - Paleolithic
Wikipeda - Recent African Origins
Wikipedia - Early Homo Sapiens
Wikipedia - Early Human migrations
Timelines of History- 1 Million to 3300 BC

Classical and medieval history

Limited or no information about early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory is available from classical and medieval times.

Early classical history

The 5th century BC can be connected. The 4th century BC can be connected. The 3rd century BC can be connected. The 2nd century BC can be connected. The 1st century BC can be considered.

Late classical history

The 1st century CE can be connected. The 2nd century CE can be connected. The 3rd century CE can be connected. The 4th century CE can be considered. The 5th century CE can be connected.

Early medieval

Biblical and classical sources were more or less taken for granted in this period. The 6th century can be connected. The 7th century can be connected. The 8th century can be connected. The 9th century can be connected. The 10th century can be connected.

Late medieval history

Late medieval history has been connected to late prehistory.

Biblical and classical sources for prehistory were taken for granted. The 11th century can be connected. The 12th century can be connected. The 13th century can be connected. The 14th century can be connected. The 15th century can be connected.

Modern history

More information about early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory is available from modern times.

16th century

Little information was available about early prehistory, middle prehistory or late prehistory, and Biblical and classical sources were accepted with little question.

The early 16th century including the early 1500s, late 1500s, early 1510s, and late 1510s can be connected. The early mid 16th century including the early 1520s, late 1520s, early 1530s, and late 1530s can be connected. The mid 16th century including the early 1540s, late 1540s, early 1550s, and late 1550s can be connected. The late mid 16th century including the early 1560s, late 1560s, early 1570s, and late 1570s can be connected. The late 16th century including the early 1580s, late 1580s, early 1590s, and late 1590s can be connected.

17th century

Little information was available about early prehistory, middle prehistory, or late prehistory, and Biblical and classical sources were accepted with little question.

The early 17th century including the early 1600s, late 1600s, early 1610s, and late 1610s can be connected. The early mid 17th century including the early 1620s, late 1620s, early 1630s, and late 1630s can be connected. The mid 17th century including the early 1640s, late 1640s, early 1650s, and late 1650s can be connected. The late mid 17th century including the early 1660s, late 1660s, early 1670s, and late 1670s can be connected. The late 17th century including the early 1680s, late 1680s, early 1690s, and late 1690s can be connected.

18th century

Prehistory was much discussed during the 18th century, and there was some question about classical and Biblical source material for early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory.

The early 18th century including the early 1700s, late 1700s, early 1710s, and late 1710s can be connected. The early mid 18th century including the early 1720s, late 1720s, early 1730s, and late 1730s can be connected. The mid 18th century including the early 1740s, late 1740s, early 1750s, and late 1750s can be connected. The late mid 18th century including the early 1760s, late 1760s, early 1770s, and late 1770s can be connected. The late 18th century including the early 1780s, late 1780s, early 1790s, and late 1790s can be connected.

19th century

The modern sciences of anthropology and archaeology developedand began to replace older views. More information about early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory was copiled.

I have little information on their development in the early 19th century including the early 1800s, late 1800s, early 1810s, and late 1810s. In the early mid 19th century, a three-age classification of artifacts (stone, bronze, iron) was a significant step in organizing archaeological information. The early 1820s, late 1820s, early 1830s, and late 1830s can be connected. In the mid 19th century, the early 1840s, late 1850s, and early 1850s can be connected. In the late 1850s, the discovery of Neanderthal man in 1857 marks a beginning of one kind. This helped stir interest in the subject. In the late mid 19th century, Darwin's publication of "the Descent of Man" in 1871 was an important step in scientific anthropology. The early 1860s, late 1860s, early 1870s, late 1870s, and early 1880s can be connected. In the late 19th century, prehistoric anthropology became increasingly significant. I do not yet have details of the early 1880s, late 1880s, early 1890s, or late 1890s.

20th century

Archeological and anthropological reconstruction of early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory continued to develop.

In the early 20th century, archeological methods continued to develop. I do not yet have details of the early 1910s, late 1910s, early 1920s, or late 1920.

I do not yet have many details of the early mid 20th century including the early 1920s, late 1920s, early 1930s, or late 1930s.

In the mid 20th century, the introduction of radiocarbon dating made more accurate chronologies of late prehistory possible. I do not yet have specific details of the early 1940s, late 1940s, early 1950s, or late 1950s.

In the late mid 20th century, methods appropriate to dating of earlier remains were found, as well as major new discoveries. I do not yet have details of the early 1960s, late 1960s. In the early 1970s, "Lucy" was unearthed in 1974. I do not yet have details of the late 1970s.

In the late 20th century including the early 1980s developments are still fairly recent. The late 1980s including 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 can be connected. The early 1990s including 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995 can be connected. The late 1990s including 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 can be connected.

Early 21st century

I do not yet have a good summary of the most recent events in the stud of prehistory. The best information has been slow to make it to the general public, and there is a great deal of confusion and misinformation about prehistory.

The early 2000s including 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 can be connected.

The late 2000s including 2006 and 2007 can be connected. 2008 including the first quarter 2008, second quarter 2008, third quarter 2008, and fourth quarter 2008 can be connected. 2009 including the first quarter 2009, second quarter 2009, third quarter 2009, and fourth quarter 2009 can be connected.

2010 including the first quarter 2010, second quarter 2010, and third quarter 2010 can be connected. The fourth quarter 2010 can be connected. October 2010 including 2010 week 40, 2010 week 41, 2010 week 42, 2010 week 43, 2010 week 44, and 2010 week 45 can be connected. November 2010 including 2010 week 45, 2010 week 46, 2010 week 47, 2020 week 48, and 2010 week 49 can be connected. December 2010 including 2010 week 49, 2010 week 50, 2010 week 51, 2010 week 52, and 2010 week 53 can be connected.

The early 2010s can be connected. 2011 can be connected.

The first quarter 2011 can be connected. January 2011 including 2011 week 1, 2011 week 2, 2011 week 3, 2011 week 4, 2011 week 5, and 2011 week 6 can be connected. February 2011 including 2011 week 6, 2011 week 7, 2011 week 8, 2011 week 9, and 2011 week 10 can be connected. March 2011 including 2011 week 10, 2011 week 11, 2011 week 12, 2011 week 13, and 2011 week 14 can be connected.

The second quarter 2011 can be connected. April 2011 including 2011 week 14, 2011 week 15, 2011 week 16, 2011 week 17, and 2011 week 18 can be connected. May 2011 including 2011 week 19, 2011 week 20, 2011 week 21, 2011 week 22, and 2011 week 23 can be connected. June 2011 including 2011 week 23, 2011 week 25, 2011 week 25, 2011 week 26, and 2011 week 27 can be connected.

The third quarter 2011 can be connected. July 2011 including 2011 week 23, 2011 week 24, 2011 week 25, 201 week 26, and 2011 week 27 can be connected. August 2011 and September 2011 can be connected. The fourth quarter 2011 including October 2011, November 2011, and December 2011 not yet well known.

Future

The future of these studies is obscure. The near future including next month, next quarter, and next year can be connected. The middle future including the next 5 years, next 20 years, next century, and next 500 years can be considered. The far future including the next 2 millennia, next 10,000 years, next 200,000 years, next million years, and beyond the next million years is obscure.

Sociology

Prehistory depends heavily on sociology. Peoples of the world are highly important. Most communities of this period were small and do not appear on a list of major cities. Principles of social structure and change are especially important in examination of early prehistory, middle prehistory, and late prehistory.