Advent of Writing and End of Prehistoric Era

The term “prehistoric period” refers to the span of time before the development of written records. This period encompasses the early stages of human history, including the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic eras.

Advent of writing marks the end of the prehistoric period

During these times, humans relied on oral traditions, cave paintings, and other forms of non-written communication to convey information and preserve their culture. The advent of writing marks the end of the prehistoric period and the beginning of recorded history, which allows for more detailed and accurate documentation of human events and societies.

Man learnt writing around 5000-6000 years ago

Writing, as a method of communication and record-keeping, is believed to have been developed around 5,000 to 6,000 years ago.  Writing is believed to have been invented during the late Neolithic period, around the 4th millennium BC.

The first record of human writing was found in Iraq

The earliest known writing systems date back to around 3400 BCE in ancient Sumer (located in present-day Iraq), where the cuneiform script was developed. Shortly thereafter (3100-3200BC), ancient Egyptians developed hieroglyphic writing.

First Record of human writing is in Cuneiform Script

The earliest records of human writing are in cuneiform script. Cuneiform, developed by the Sumerians of ancient Mesopotamia, dates back to around 3400 BCE. It is considered the world’s first system of writing and was initially used for recording numbers for accounting purposes, such as documenting transactions and inventory lists.

Hieroglyphic writing, developed by the ancient Egyptians, is also one of the earliest writing systems and dates back to around 3100-3200 BCE. Hieroglyphs were primarily used for monumental / Stone inscriptions and were both logographic and phonetic in nature.

Cuneiform Writing was used primarily on Clay Tablets

Cuneiform characters were made by pressing a stylus, typically a reed sharpened to a wedge shape, into soft clay tablets, which were then baked or dried. The wedge-shaped marks are the reason for the name “”cuneiform,”” which means “”wedge-shaped.”” One example is Kish Tablet which is one of the earliest record of human writing found in Iraq.

Hieroglyphic writing was primarily done on stone and papyrus

Hieroglyphs are a complex system consisting of logographic, syllabic, and alphabetic elements. Hieroglyphic writing was used primarily for monumental inscriptions and religious texts. It was written on various materials, most commonly on stone and papyrus. The tools used for hieroglyphs varied depending on the material, including chisels for stone and reed brushes for papyrus.

Domestication of Animals and Plants in Prehistoric India

The earliest evidence of domestication of animals has been provided by Adamagarh in Madhya Pradesh and Bagor in Rajasthan. Some examples of earliest cultivation of plants around 7000-6000 years back have been found near Sambhar lake in Ajmer Rajasthan, Mehrgarh in Pakistan etc.

The first animals to be domesticated were dog, cattle, sheep and goat and the first plants to be cultivated were wheat and barley. This new subsistence economy based on food production had a lasting impact on the evolution of human society and the environment. In the humid lands, extending from the middle Ganga valley to China and Southeast Asia, rice cultivation and domestication of pig was accomplished probably around the same time because rice and pig existed in wild form in this region. The cultivation of yams and taro also took place in this region. Domesticated animals proved to be useful not only for meat but also for milk, hide, agricultural operations, and transport.