The term prehistoric refers to a time period before recorded history, or more specifically, before humans had developed writing systems. This era spanned from the emergence of life on Earth around 3.5 billion years ago until the invention of writing, which occurred roughly 6,000 years ago. During this vast stretch of time, many significant events and evolutionary developments took place that shaped our planet and its inhabitants as we know them today. The term prehistoric is often used to describe any artifacts or remains from this period, such as fossils, tools, or ruins, which provide valuable insights into the lives of early humans and other organisms.