Frühgeschichte

Frühgeschichte refers to the earliest periods of human history for which some form of written records exist, however scarce. It marks the transition from prehistory, where only archaeological evidence is available, to historical periods with more substantial written accounts. The exact chronological boundaries of Frühgeschichte vary depending on the region and the development of writing systems. In Europe, for instance, it often encompasses the period from the arrival of early farming communities to the decline of the Roman Empire, while in the Near East, it might extend much further back, encompassing the rise of early civilizations.

Key characteristics of Frühgeschichte include the development of settled agriculture, the formation of complex societies and early states, and the emergence of rudimentary forms of governance and social stratification. While written records exist, they are often fragmented, difficult to interpret, or primarily consist of administrative or religious texts, offering limited insight into the daily lives of ordinary people. Archaeological findings remain crucial for understanding these periods, often complementing or even surpassing the information gleaned from written sources. The study of Frühgeschichte involves interdisciplinary approaches, drawing from archaeology, history, linguistics, and anthropology to reconstruct the past.