1. plural of prehistory; the periods of human development before written records existed
2. the background events or circumstances that led up to particular situations

Examples

• The museum displays artifacts from various prehistories around the world.
• Archaeologists study the prehistories of different civilizations.
• The prehistories of these ancient cultures remain largely mysterious.
• Understanding the prehistories of conflicts helps explain current tensions.
• The book examines the prehistories that led to the industrial revolution.
• Different regions have distinct prehistories based on their archaeological evidence.