WHAT EVENT MARKED THE END OF PREHISTORY? - HISTORY - 2024

The event that marked the end of prehistory and the beginning of history was the creation of the writing system, which is identified in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Prehistory refers to the human period from the creation of the Earth to the invention of writing.

In this sense, the term encompasses the Paleolithic and Lower Neolithic periods, also known as the Stone Age. By extension, the term is also used to refer to the time when dinosaurs lived. Likewise, the religious stories told in Genesis (first chapter of the Bible) are part of prehistory.

Although there were technological advances such as the invention of the wheel or the discovery of fire, at this time there was no precise writing method; instead, images were used to express ideas. It should be noted that these images were not organized in the form of an alphabet, but rather ideographically.

It was towards the end of prehistory that the first proper writing systems began to appear, and it was the invention of these systems that ended the prehistoric era and marked the beginning of history.

The process of the end of prehistory

Typical definition of "history"

Most historians agree on a definition of history:

This means that if a culture is able to transmit its history in written form, it is making history.

So, according to this definition, there is no established world boundary between history and prehistory, since writing appeared at different times in different civilizations.

For example, in Egypt and Mesopotamia, prehistory ended in approximately 4200 BC, while, in other cultures, writing emerged in 3150 BC, which means that there is a difference of almost a thousand years between the beginning of history in one area and another.

Writing

- Writing in Mesopotamia

Some historians point out that, simultaneously with the Mesopotamian writing, the alphabetic writing emerged in Egypt.

Initially, the Egyptians developed a writing system that used images as equivalents for complex ideas.

Later, the images were organized in a system with 2000 pictographic signs; these symbols were reduced to 700 and, finally, an alphabet was developed (which can be seen on the Rosetta Stone).

References

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5. The Legacy of Egypt. Retrieved on May 2, 2017, from teachersites.schoolworld.com.
6. The Legacy of the Ancient World, 3000 BC - 1600 BC. Retrieved on May 2, 2017, from mshworldhistory10.wikispaces.com.
7. Mesopotamia. Retrieved on May 2, 2017, from 6hmesopotamia.weebly.com.