The correct answer is: A) The invention of writing.
Prehistory is the period of human history before the invention of writing. This period is also known as the Stone Age, and it lasted for millions of years. During prehistory, humans lived in small groups and hunted animals for food. They also gathered wild plants and fruits.
The invention of writing allowed humans to record their history and communicate with each other over long distances. This led to the development of civilizations and the rise of modern humans.
The other options are incorrect because they all occurred after the invention of writing. The emergence of agriculture occurred around 10,000 years ago, the use of metal tools occurred around 5,000 years ago, and the rise of modern humans occurred around 200,000 years ago.