Although prehistoric people had no writing, they made discoveries and inventions that were the foundation of human progress. Much of how we live today began in prehistoric times.
Mastering fire and tools
Learning to control fire was one of the greatest steps. Fire gave warmth, light, protection from animals, and let people cook food. Making tools — first of stone, later of metal — helped people hunt, cut, build and farm more easily.
Farming and settled life
The invention of farming in the Neolithic changed the world. Growing crops and keeping animals gave a steady supply of food. This allowed people to settle in one place, build villages, and led in time to towns and the first civilisations.
Skills, craft and art
Prehistoric people also invented pottery to store food and water, learned weaving, and created art such as cave paintings. They developed language to share ideas. Some even raised great stones and studied the seasons so they would know when to plant and harvest. Every one of these achievements was passed down and improved by the people who came after, so that later civilisations did not have to begin from nothing.
Key idea
Fire, tools, farming, pottery, art and language were all begun in prehistory. These discoveries became the foundation of every later civilisation.
Remember
- Fire for warmth, cooking and safety.
- Tools of stone and later metal.
- Farming led to villages and civilisation.
- Pottery, art and language too.