Final answer:
The period before written records and history is known as prehistory, a time that includes the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. Prehistory is a foundational stage that precedes recorded history, which began with the advent of writing systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The period before written records and history is known as prehistory. This era encompasses the time before humans began to use writing to document their experiences and events, which transitions into what we define as 'history.' Prehistoric times are split into different periods, the most significant being the Paleolithic, starting around 2.6 million years ago, and the Neolithic period, beginning around 12,000 BCE. These times were marked by significant climatic and geographic changes.
After the Prehistoric era, we see further division into the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. While prehistory is devoid of written documents, valuable information about human societies during this time is uncovered through archaeology and artifact examination. Archaeologists and historians work together, utilizing non-written artifacts such as tools, remains, and buildings to understand human development before writing systems emerged.
As the study of the past based on written artifacts began with the invention of writing in historical civilizations, prehistory provides a crucial foundation for understanding the origins and progressions that led to recorded history. The transition from prehistory to history marked the beginning of deliberate record-keeping, the founding of legal systems, and the emergence of philosophical and moral reflection—key aspects of the 'historical' period.