noun
prehistory; previous history; antecedents
Refers to the historical background or events leading up to a particular period, often used in academic or formal contexts. Not to be confused with 先史 (せんし), which refers to prehistoric times before written records.
この戦争の前史を理解することが重要だ。
It is important to understand the prehistory of this war.
彼は日本の近代化の前史について研究している。
He is researching the antecedents of Japan's modernization.