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World Prehistory: A Brief Introduction 5/e
Brian M. Fagan Emeritus
Published July 2001 by Prentice Hall
Copyright 2002, 375 pp., Paper
ISBN: 0-13-040463-2
List Price:
$60.00
Inventory Status:
In-Stock
   
Preface


Companion Website
Summary

Written by one of the leading archaeological writers in the world--in a simple, jargon-free narrative style--this brief, well-illustrated account of the major developments in the human past (from the origins of humanity to the origins of literate civilization) is ideal for those with no previous knowledge of the subject. Up to date and state of the art in content and perspective, it covers the entire world (not just the Americas or Europe), placing major emphasis on both theories and the latest archaeological and multidisciplinary approaches. The main focus is on four major developments--the origins of humanity; the appearance and spread of modern humans before and during the late Ice Age, including the first settlement of the Americas; the beginnings of food production; and the rise of the first civilizations. Features special boxes on Science (e.g., key dating methods and other scientific approaches), Sites (e.g., sites of unusual importance or interest, and Voices (e.g., quotes from writings of ancient times). KEY TOPICS: Human Origins. African Exodus. Diaspora. The Origins of Food Production. The First Farmers. Chiefs and Chiefdoms. State-Organized Societies. Mesopotamia and the Eastern Mediterranean World. Egypt and Africa. South, Southeast, And East Asia. Lowland Mesoamerica. Highland Mesamerica. Andean Civilizations. MARKET: For anyone interested in Archaeology, World Prehistory, Human Antiquity.

Features

  • NEW - New perceptions of world prehistory—Chapter 1 includes important discussions of archaeology and alternative perspectives on the past.

    • Reflects new thinking on this important topic.

  • NEW - The latest advances in early human evolution, and new fossil discoveries—Chapter 2 includes the latest fossil discoveries in Ethiopia and Kenya, among them Australopithecus garhi.

    • Sheds new light on this confusing, and still enigmatic predecessor of humanity.

  • NEW - Origins of modern humans—Chapter 3 covers new research into the controversial issue of the earliest modern humans and fresh perceptions of Neanderthal ancestry and behavior.
  • NEW - Origins of food production—Chapter 6 incorporates expanded coverage of the latest theories on the origins of agriculture and animal domestication; Chapter 7 incorporates new dates for early agriculture obtained from accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates and the results of new research into the early farming village at Abu Hureyra, Syria, currently the earliest agricultural settlement in the world.
  • NEW - Origins of states and civilization—Chapter 9 includes current theoretical debates on the origins of state-organized societies, including the issues of factionalism and charismatic leadership. Chapters 10/14 offer an up-to-date description and analysis of the first civilizations, with expanded coverage of ancient Egyptian civilization and of south and southeast Asian states. Chapters 12 and 13 offer more comprehensive analysis of highland and lowland Mesoamerican civilizations, and of Andean civilizations.
  • NEW - New boxed material—In each chapter. Science boxes introduce key dating methods and other scientific approaches, such as radiocarbon and AMS dating, and environmental reconstruction; Sites boxes describe sites of unusual importance and some aspect of them which has unusual interest; Voices boxes (in the Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and highland Mesoamerican chapters) feature quotes from writings of ancient times, giving each an unusual “voice.”

    • Provides background on basic scientific methods and key sites.

  • NEW - Expanded and revised art program—Features new photographs, fresh or revised line art, and clearer chronological tables. Expanded captions integrate the illustrations more closely into the text.

    • Provides additional background on recent discoveries and amplifies the narrative.

  • A simple, balanced, narrative account of world/human prehistory.

    • Allows both students and instructors to achieve a broad overview of the subject in a unique way, unencumbered by unnecessary detail.

  • A unique authority—Written by an internationally known writer and archaeologist who is a specialist in world prehistory.

    • Gives students and instructors access to the latest information and theoretical approaches, written in a simple, clear manner.

  • Unique, integrated coverage of the highlights of world prehistory—There is no ethnocentric focus on Europe, southwest Asia, or parts of the Americas in the book, nor are different geographic areas treated in different ways. At the same time, there is a good balance between time periods.

    • Gives a well-balanced account of the broad sweep of prehistory, essential for beginners.

  • Glossaries of Technical Terms and Archaeological Sites and Cultural Terms.

    • Provides convenient in-text study and review aids.
Table of Contents



A Note on Chronologies and Measurements.

I. PREHISTORY.

 1. Introducing World Prehistory.

II. THE WORLD OF THE FIRST HUMANS.

 2. Human Origins.

 3. African Exodus.

III. THE BIRTH OF THE MODERN WORLD.

 4. Diaspora.

 5. The Origins of Food Production.

 6. The Earliest Farmers.

 7. Chiefs and Chiefdoms.

IV. EARLY CIVILIZATIONS.

 8. State-Organized Societies.

 9. Mesopotamia and the Eastern Mediterranean World.

10. Egypt and Africa.

11. South, Southeast, and East Asia.

12. Lowland Mesoamerica.

13. Highland Mesoamerica.

14. Andean Civilizations.

Epilogue.

Glossary of Technical Terms.

Glossary of Archaeological Sites and Cultural Terms.

Guide to Further Reading.

References.

Index.



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