- Prehistory began with the appearance of the first human beings, several million years ago, and lasted until the invention of writing about 5000 years ago.
- The two main periods of prehistory are the Palaeolithic and the Neolithic.
- The Palaeolithic period started with the first human beings and ended around 10000 BC with the discovery of farming.
- During the Palaeolithic, humans were nomads who hunted, fished, and gathered food; lived in small groups of 20 or 30 people; resided in caves or simple shelters; made fire and simple tools; dressed in animal skins; and drew pictures on cave walls.
- The Neolithic period began around 10000 BC with farming and ended around 3000 BC with the invention of writing.
- In the Neolithic, humans became sedentary due to farming, no longer needing to search for food.
- They made pottery for storing food, developed new tools and fabrics for clothing, formed villages with many inhabitants, built megaliths from large stones, and learned to work with metals.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of prehistoric worksheet.
