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.
It is important to understand the prehistory of this war.
He is researching the antecedents of Japan's modernization.
prehistoric period
Compound of 前 (ぜん, 'before') and 史 (し, 'history'). The term is used to describe the historical context or events that precede a specific era or phenomenon.