Question

The term prehistory first coined in 1857, was popularised by John Lubbock in the book titled-

• A. History of the past
• B. Prehistoric archaeology
• C. Archaeology
• D. Prehistoric times

Hint:

Associate John Lubbock with the terms Palaeolithic, Neolithic, and the book "Prehistoric Times". His work was fundamental in structuring the study of deep human history before written records.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the title of the influential book by Sir John Lubbock that helped popularize the term "prehistory" and establish a framework for its study.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Sir John Lubbock, an English banker, politician, naturalist, and archaeologist, was a key figure in 19th-century science. Influenced by Charles Darwin's work, Lubbock sought to apply evolutionary principles to human history.
In 1865, he published his seminal work titled "Pre-historic Times, as Illustrated by Ancient Remains, and the Manners and Customs of Modern Savages". This book became a standard textbook for prehistoric archaeology for decades. In it, Lubbock famously introduced the terms "Palaeolithic" (Old Stone Age) and "Neolithic" (New Stone Age) to subdivide the Stone Age.
The short title of this book is commonly referred to as "Prehistoric Times".
Step 3: Final Answer:
Comparing the options with the book's title, "Prehistoric times" is the correct choice.