The beginning of recording human civilization

_Elsa_

‘At the start of prehistoric times, our ancestors most likely lived in caves, to shield from danger and bad weather. They started making huts that were similar to teepees from sticks and animal skins. Because they were hunter gatherers, they needed to move around a lot to find new food, so it was important that their homes could be rebuilt quickly. As time went on, they started to make houses from timber or stone, with roofs made from thatch, turf or animal hides.  The most popular houses in the Bronze Age and Iron Age were round houses which were made out of wattle and daub (woven wood and mud mixed with straw). They had a fireplace in the middle and families slept around the edges.

Tools - From the Stone Age to Iron Age, tools changed a lot. The first tools were used for hunting animals and were made out of stone.  The invention of bronze meant stronger tools, which changed the way our ancestors lived, worked and farmed. In the time from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, the wheel was invented, which meant animals could pull carts to transport things more easily. Irrigation systems and metal ploughs were also invented, meaning our ancestors could farm all year.

Clothes - Stone Age, people mostly made their clothes from linen and animal skins.  During the Bronze Age, our ancestors made wool into cloth, so in the Iron Age this was more popular, and clothes were dyed with vegetable dyes.’ (Source)

The Beginning of Recorded History - Prehistory generally ended around 600 B.C. as different cultures began recording their history. The Greek historian Herodotus, known as "the father of history," finished writing The Histories in 430 B.C. It recounted the historical politics and traditions of the area, as well as the establishment of the Achaemenid Empire in 550 B.C., which many historians consider to be the end of the Iron Age. Others see the end of the Iron Age as the beginning of Roman conquests throughout Europe in the first century. No matter where prehistory ended, there's little debate about the value of recorded ancient history that followed.

The Birth of Human Civilization - While some may think of dinosaurs and cavemen when they hear the term prehistoric, it really indicates the period of time when humankind was starting its remarkable journey. Thousands of generations brought us from the early days of contained fire and stone weapons to efficient metal equipment and the ability to record history. To see what comes next in the timeline, check out these explanations about the four types of ancient Greek government. You can also put the prehistoric era into context with an overview of all the historical eras around the world.’ (Source)

“The history and prehistory of writing are as long as the history of civilization itself,” Rip says. “Indeed the development of communication by writing was a basic step in the advance of civilization. Yet writing is little more than 5,000 years old. The oldest writings that have come down to the present day are inscriptions on clay tablets made by the Sumerians in about 3100 bc.” (Source)

Let’s continue - The Glass Age 1300-present

Start at the beginning – Tiffi goes back to school to learn about the prehistoric ages