Question

The period with written records is known as _____
A)Prehistoric period
B)Historic period
C)Medieval period
D)Paleolithic period

Answer 1

Hint: 1)It is also called ‘recorded history’.
2)This period dates back to the 4th millennium BC.

Complete answer:
History of the human world can be classified into two periods. They are Prehistory (pre-literary history) and History (also called recorded history). Prehistory refers to the period of human history that was before the invention of writing systems. Though symbols and cave paintings are seen in this era but there are no readable texts.
The Prehistory is divided into Paleolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic ages. Early traces of writings are seen in the Chalcolithic age, as this was the age when this system was being developed.

Writing was invented in the 4th millennium BC and this was the advent of the written accounts of ancient history. This period is known as the Recorded history or the historic period. It starts from the invention of ‘writing’ up to modern history.

It is this Recorded History that is classified into Ancient, Medieval and Modern History.
Ancient History – this includes the Bronze age (Indus Valley Civilization), Iron age and the Axial age including Indo-Greek rulers.
Medieval History – this is also called the Middle Age. The early medieval period includes the Chalukya dynasty, the Cholas etc. The late medieval period includes the Delhi and Bengal Sultanates, the Rajputs of Rajasthan, etc.
Modern History – this begins with the foundation of the Mughal Empire and includes the Marathas, the British and other European invasions.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B)

Note: 1)The Chalcolithic age is part of the Prehistory, but it still has some traces of writings.
2)This transitional period between the Prehistory and the Recorded history is called Protohistory.
3)This Chalcolithic period is also called the Copper age.