Explore BrainMass

Explore BrainMass

    Prehistory

    Prehistory refers to all time occurring before the invention of writing and the practice of recording history. In its broadest sense, prehistory goes until and including the creation of the Universe. In reality, the area of study is typically concerned with the period between anatomically modern humans first appearing on earth until the beginning of recorded history. Because of the "localized nature of the prehistoric period, different cultures began producing written historical records at different times."¹ Therefore, the accepted end of the Prehistoric age varies substantially from culture to culture and region to region. Because of this, the lines between prehistory and history are often blurred and unclear.

    By definition, there are no written records from prehistoric times so it is crucial to be able to date prehistoric materials. Prehistoric archaeologists, anthropologists, geneticists and linguists all contribute to this area of study. It is custom for prehistorians to use the three-age system when dividing human prehistory. These three time periods are the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age, named after their respective tool-making materials.

    The Stone Age is divided into the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. Many human traditions that thrive today "were adopted in this age, including burial of the dead and early art and music."¹ The Bronze Age is marked by widespread use of metal working of naturally occurring ores to cast bronze. The Iron Age is characterized by the adoption of iron, which played a huge, innovative role in the creation of more advanced agriculture and religion. It was during the Iron Age that most cultures began recording relevant history for the purpose of an academic resource.

     

     

    1. Haivland, William A., & Harald E. L. Prins, Dana Walraith, Dunny McBrid.(2003). The Essence of Anthropology 3rd ed.
    Image Credit: Stonehenge at Wikimedia Commons

    © BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com March 18, 2024, 5:59 pm ad1c9bdddf

    BrainMass Solutions Available for Instant Download

    Human Rights & Sex Trafficking

    Discuss the human rights abuses as they apply to sex trafficking, sex tourism and sex workers. Provide example to support your response. be sure to discuss the complexity of labeling all sex work as sex trafficking? Discuss some of the complexities of sex tourism. what solutions are offered in our course materials to curtail

    Women's Rights, Health & Global Politics

    Apply the women's rights as human rights framework to women's health and provide examples of how women's health is wrapped up issues of global polities? explain globalization and how it affects women's health. what are some of the barriers to women's health and how can they be overcome?

    Research Ideas

    Identify the historical issue for juvenile delinquency in the US. Identify several peer-reviewed journal articles for this topic, and provide annotated notes for each reference.

    Good and Bad of the 17th Amendment

    In your opinion, what were the consequences (both positive and negative) to adding the 17th amendment to the Constitution? Argue whether or not the changes presented by this amendment were consistent with the intent of the Founding Fathers when they wrote the Constitution. Explore through writing how the culture of the United St