Distinguishing History & Prehistory

The primary distinction between history and prehistory lies in the presence or absence of recorded events. History refers to the past events that have been documented, while prehistory refers to the time period before recorded history.

Key Takeaways

• Prehistory refers to the time period before recorded history, and history refers to documented past events.
• Prehistory is divided into the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age, characterized by the types of tools and materials used.
• History relies heavily on written records, while information about prehistory can be gathered from fossils, artifacts, and ancient carvings.

What is Prehistory

Prehistory is the term used to describe the time period before recorded history. It gave rise to terms such as prehistoric man and prehistoric period. Historians and geologists use the word ‘prehistory’ to denote the period of time since the beginning of the universe, life on Earth, and human existence. Prehistory is characterized by the three-age system: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age, which are based on the types of tools and materials used during those periods. Written records do not exist for prehistory, but we can learn various types of information about it from fossils, artifacts, and ancient carvings.

What is History?

In contrast, history is well-documented through written records. Some of the greatest empires in world history, such as the Mughal empire in India, the Ottoman Empire, and the Russian Empire, are known to posterity thanks to historical texts recorded during those periods. As such, history relies heavily on writing and can be considered the study of the human past. In short, history can be defined as the time period after writing was invented.

What is the Difference Between History and Prehistory?

The key difference between history and prehistory is the presence of written records. Prehistory can be described as the period before writing was introduced, while history refers to the period of recorded events. Although prehistory does not have written records, information about it can be gathered from fossils, artifacts, and ancient carvings.

Summary – History vs Prehistory

The primary distinction between history and prehistory is the presence of written records. Prehistory refers to the time period before writing was introduced, while history refers to the period of recorded events.