Human History: From Prehistory to Contemporary Times

History

History is the science of humanity's past events in a particular space and time, analyzing its causes to better understand our present.

Sources of Information

Historians study the past because they cannot directly observe it. They seek clues, a collection of traces called primary sources, such as letters. Secondary materials are what other historians have written.

Ages of History

Ancient Age

The Ancient Age begins with the appearance of writing and ends with the fall of the Roman Empire at the hands of the Barbarians in the 5th century AD (476 AD).

Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is the historical period of Western civilization between the 5th and 15th centuries. It conventionally begins in 476 AD with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ends in 1492 with the discovery of America, or in 1453 with the fall of the Byzantine Empire, which coincides with the end of the Hundred Years' War.

Modern Age

The Modern Age is the third of the historical periods into which Western history is traditionally divided. The Modern Age is the period that would emphasize the values of modernity (progress, communication, and reason) against the previous period, the Middle Ages, often labeled as a dark age.

Contemporary Age

The Contemporary Age is the name given to the historical period between the French Revolution and the present, comprising a total of 221 years. Humanity has undergone a demographic transition, completed by the most advanced societies (the so-called First World).

From Prehistory to History

Historians place the beginning of history between 4,000 and 3,000 BC with the appearance of writing. Several important changes occurred during this transition:

• Small villages began to become heavily populated cities.
• Social classes arose: artisans, peasants, priests, traders, military, slaves, and so on.
• Metallurgy was born.
• Farm animals were used for labor.
• The wheel was invented for transport.
• Wind was harnessed for sailing.

Stone Age

The Stone Age is the period of prehistory during which humans created stone tools. Due to more advanced technology, stone was used for cutting tools and weapons.

Neolithic

The Neolithic (polished stone) is one of the periods into which the Stone Age is divided.

Paleolithic

The Paleolithic is a prehistoric stage characterized by the use of carved stone tools. Organic materials were also used. It is the longest period of human history, covering 99% of it.

Metal Age

The Metal Age is the period of technological evolution of mankind characterized by the development of metallurgy.

Changes from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic

Humanity transitioned from a predatory lifestyle to a productive one.

Prehistory

Prehistory is the period before recorded history. It begins with the appearance of humans on Earth and ends with the invention of writing.