pre·his·to·ry 
/ˌpri:ˈhɪstəri/ noun
plural pre·his·to·ries /ˌpri:ˈhɪstəri/ noun 1 [noncount] : the period of time in the past before people could write : the time before history was written down
▪ We are learning about the prehistory of North America. 2 [count] : the time and events that came before and led to the development of something — usually singular ▪ the prehistory of the Internet
▪ We are learning about the prehistory of North America.
