The pre-colonial period refers to the time before a region or country was colonized or came under the control of a foreign power. It is the era prior to the establishment of colonial rule, during which indigenous societies, cultures, and civilizations existed independently and developed their own social structures, economies, and traditions

. For example, in North America, the pre-colonial period was marked by Native American tribes living autonomously, engaging in agriculture, trade, and building towns and cities before European colonizers arrived

. Similarly, in Africa, pre-colonial societies had diverse production systems including hunting, gathering, agriculture, and mining, adapting to various environmental conditions without colonial influence

. In the Americas, the pre-Columbian era-often considered part of the pre- colonial period-spans from the initial human settlement to the arrival of Europeans in 1492, encompassing advanced indigenous civilizations such as the Maya, Aztec, and Inca, which developed complex social hierarchies, agriculture, architecture, and written records

. Thus, the pre-colonial period is essentially the historical phase before colonization, characterized by indigenous autonomy and cultural development.