Why did polytheism emerge before monotheism?

Answer 1

Polytheism arose before monotheism likely because there were many, many things that primitive man did not understand; things including: Lightning and storms, rain, disease, the stars, the moon, droughts, love. Being that we did not understand (key word) many things, man probably saw each one being distinct.

I personally think that animal worship came first being that our ancestors had to hunt and gather as nomads. Tales involving sacred animals likely arose after encounters with scary and or illusive animals. Animals are regarded sacred by tribes to this day sometimes because they have envious strength or because they provide the gift of food to the tribe. Gods that control rain and gods that were located in the stars came naturally...

We see religions like these all the time among native tribes of countries all over the world usually dealing with local animals and the stars, sun and moon.