prehistory
/ˌpriːhɪstərɪ/noun
mass noun
1- the period of time before written records（有文字记载以前的）史前史, 史前阶段：
myths that stretch back into prehistory.
追溯到史前阶段的神话。
1.1
- the events or conditions leading up to a particular occurrence or phenomenon（事件, 现象）背景, 历史背景：
the prehistory of capitalism.
资本主义的历史背景。