Why is the long period of time before development written language called prehistory?

The long period of time before the development of written language is called prehistory because we have no written records from that time. This makes it difficult to study and understand those periods directly, relying instead on archeological evidence, oral traditions, and interpretations of artifacts.

Here's a breakdown:

* History is defined as the study of the past based on written records.

* Prehistory, therefore, refers to the time *before* written records were available.

Think of it like this:

* History is like a story told by the book. We can read the words and understand the events.

* Prehistory is like trying to understand a story based only on the pictures and objects that remain. We have to use our knowledge and skills to piece together what happened.

This doesn't mean that prehistory is unimportant! It encompasses a vast majority of human history and is critical to understanding our evolution and the development of civilization. Archeologists and anthropologists use a variety of methods to study prehistory, including:

* Archaeological evidence: Excavating and analyzing artifacts, tools, and settlements

* Paleontology: Studying fossils to understand ancient life forms and environments

* Linguistics: Analyzing languages to trace their origins and connections

* Genetics: Studying DNA to understand human migration patterns and relationships

While prehistory may be a "silent" period in terms of written records, it is a rich and complex era that continues to fascinate and teach us about ourselves.