Editing Ancient history (section)

==Prehistory==
{{Main|Prehistory|Neolithic Revolution}}

[[Prehistory]] is the period before written history. Most of our knowledge of that period comes from the work of archaeologists.{{sfn|Parker|2017|p=16}}

The [[early human migration]]s in the [[Lower Paleolithic]] saw ''[[Homo erectus]]'' spread across [[Eurasia]] 1.8 million years ago.{{sfn|Hart-Davis|2012|p=18}} Evidence for the use of fire has been dated as early as 1.8 million years ago, a date which is contested,{{sfn|Hart-Davis|2012|p=17}} with generally accepted evidence for the controlled use of fire dating to 780,000 years ago. Actual use of hearths first appears 400,000 years ago.{{sfn|Wiesner-Hanks|2015|p=19}} Dates for the emergence of ''[[Homo sapiens]]'' (modern humans) range from 250,000{{sfn|Wiesner-Hanks|2015|p=26}} to 160,000 years ago,{{sfn|Hart-Davis|2012|p=19}} with the varying dates being based on [[DNA study|DNA studies]]{{sfn|Wiesner-Hanks|2015|p=26}} and [[fossil]]s respectively.{{sfn|Hart-Davis|2012|p=19}} Some 50,000 years ago, ''Homo sapiens'' migrated out of [[Africa]]. They reached [[Australia]] about 45,000 years ago, southwestern [[Europe]] about the same time, southeastern Europe and [[Siberia]] around 40,000 years ago, and [[Japan]] about 30,000 years ago. Humans [[migration to the New World|migrated to the Americas]] about 15,000 years ago.{{sfn|Parker|2017|pp=36–37}}

Evidence for [[agriculture]] emerges in about 9000 BC in what is now eastern [[Turkey]] and spread through the [[Fertile Crescent]].{{sfn|Wiesner-Hanks|2015|pp=45–46}} Settlement at [[Göbekli Tepe]] began around 9500 BC and may have the world's oldest temple.{{sfn|Parker|2017|p=44}} The [[Nile River Valley]] has evidence of [[sorghum]] and [[millet]] cultivation starting around 8000 BC and agricultural use of [[Yam (vegetable)|yam]]s in Western Africa perhaps dates to the same time period. Cultivation of millet, [[rice]], and [[legume]]s began around 7000 BC in [[China]]. [[Taro]] cultivation in [[New Guinea]] dates to about 7000 BC also with [[Cucurbita|squash]] cultivation in [[Mesoamerica]] perhaps sharing that date.{{sfn|Wiesner-Hanks|2015|pp=45–46}} [[Animal domestication]] began with the [[domestication of dogs]], which dates to at least 15,000 years ago, and perhaps even earlier. [[History of the domestic sheep|Sheep]] and [[Evolution of domestic goats|goats]] were domesticated around 9000 BC in the Fertile Crescent, alongside the first evidence for agriculture. Other animals, such as [[pigs]] and [[poultry]], were later domesticated and used as food sources.{{sfn|Wiesner-Hanks|2015|pp=48–49}} [[Cattle]] and [[water buffalo]] were domesticated around 7000 BC and [[Domestication of the horse|horses]], [[donkey]]s, and [[camel]]s were domesticated by about 4000 BC. All of these animals were used not only for food, but to carry and pull people and loads, greatly increasing human ability to do work. The invention of the simple [[plough]] by 6000 BC further increased agricultural efficiency.{{sfn|Wiesner-Hanks|2015|p=54}}

Metal use in the form of hammered [[copper]] items predates the discovery of [[smelting]] of [[copper ore]]s, which happened around 6000 BC in western Asia and independently in eastern Asia before 2000 BC. [[Gold]] and [[silver]] use dates to between 6000 and 5000 BC. [[metal alloy|Alloy]] metallurgy began with [[bronze]] in about 3500 BC in [[Mesopotamia]] and was developed independently in China by 2000 BC.{{sfn|Parker|2017|p=45}} [[Pottery]] developed independently throughout the world,{{sfn|Wiesner-Hanks|2015|pp=55–56}} with fired pots appearing first among the [[Jomon]] of Japan and in West Africa at [[Mali]].{{sfn|Hart-Davis|2012|p=38}} Sometime between 5000 and 4000 BC the [[potter's wheel]] was invented.{{sfn|Wiesner-Hanks|2015|pp=55–56}} By 3000 BC,{{sfn|Roberts|Westad|2013|pp=59–60}} the pottery wheel was adapted into [[wheeled vehicle]]s which could be used to carry loads further and easier than with human or animal power alone.{{sfn|Wiesner-Hanks|2015|pp=55–56}}

[[Writing]] developed separately in five different locations in human history: Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, and Mesoamerica.{{sfn|Parker|2017|pp=60–61}} By 3400 BC, "proto-literate" [[cuneiform]] spread in the Middle East.{{sfn|Diamond|1999|p=218}} Egypt developed its own system of [[hieroglyph]]s by about 3200 BC.{{sfn|Parker|2017|pp=60–61}} By 2800 BC the [[Indus Valley Civilisation]] had developed its [[Indus script]], which remains undeciphered.{{sfn|Hart-Davis|2012|p=58}} [[Chinese characters|Chinese Characters]] were independently developed in China during the [[Shang dynasty]] in the form of the [[Oracle bone script|Oracle Bone Script]] dating to the period 1600 to 1100 BC.{{sfn|Hart-Davis|2012|pp=60–61}} Writing in Mesoamerica dates to 600 BC with the [[Zapotec civilization]].{{sfn|Hart-Davis|2012|p=63}}