prehistory
noun /ˌpriːˈhɪstri/
  /ˌpriːˈhɪstri/
 - [uncountable] the period of time in history before information was written down史前时期;远古时期 - These climate changes continued throughout prehistory.这些气候变化贯穿整个史前。 
 
- These climate changes continued throughout prehistory.
- [singular] the earliest stages of the development of something(事物发展的)初期,开始阶段,萌芽时期 - the prehistory of capitalism资本主义发展的初期 
 
- the prehistory of capitalism