The Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

'Brings alive world archaeology in an exciting, accessible and informative way that makes it by far the best introduction available' Cyprian Broodbank, Institute of Archaeology, University College London

The Human Past offers a truly global and comprehensive coverage of prehistory, spanning the past three million years, from human origins in Africa and the spread of modern humans around the world to the great civilizations of Egypt and Africa, the Mediterranean, Europe, South and East Asia, and the Americas.

No other world prehistory textbook can claim such a range of expertise – all 24 authors, from North America, Europe and Australasia, are acknowledged experts in their fields. The book has been revised throughout to take into account new discoveries, theories and interpretations, including what the analysis of ancient DNA tells us about our evolution; the Denisovans; the mechanisms of the adoption and spread of farming; the latest theories about the domestication of key plants and animals; and new thinking on the earliest Paleoindian hunting strategies.

With a clear layout, unmatched graphic presentation, including world and regional maps and timelines, greatly enhanced use of colour illustrations, and hundreds of photographs, diagrams, plans and reconstruction images, this remains essential reading for any student of prehistory.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Study of the Human Past
Part 1 - The Evolution of Humanity (6 million to 11,500 years ago)
African Origins
Hominin Dispersals in the Old World
The Rise of Modern Humans
Part 2 - After the Ice (11,500 years ago to the early Civilizations)
The World Transformed: From Foragers and Farmers to States and Empires
From Foragers to Complex Societies in Southwest Asia
East Asian Agriculture and its Impact
Australia and the Pacific Basin During the Holocene
Origins of Food-producing Economies in the Americas
Holocene Africa
Holocene Europe
Peoples and Complex Societies in Ancient Southwest Asia
The Mediterranean World
South Asia: From Early Villages to Buddhism
Complex Societies of East and Southeast Asia
Mesoamerican Cuivilization
From Village to Empire in South America
Complex Societies of North America
The Human Past: Retrospect and Prospect
Glossary, Bibliography, Index

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