In this first section, you will be studying an era known as pre-history, which is the time before people started to write down or otherwise record events. 

This is a time before people had a written language. So, how do we know what happened if no one wrote it down?

When it comes to pre-history we rely on evidence that people left behind. These may be artifacts such as stone tools, pottery fragments or bones from burial sites. In some cases, archeologists have managed to unearth ancient settlements. In others, they have found paintings and remains of cooking fires deep in caves where humans once spent their time. 

We know that these early humans were mostly hunter-gatherers who lived nomadic lives, moving on when resources were depleted. We know that they were successful, as their numbers grew. As their populations expanded, they moved on to new areas, in search of game or other necessities of life. 

Wherever these early people went, they left a record that they had been there.