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World Prehistory: A Brief Introduction 6/e
Brian M. Fagan Emeritus
Published February 2004 by Prentice Hall
Copyright 2005, 416 pp., Paper
ISBN: 0-13-185062-8
List Price:
$62.67
Inventory Status:
In-Stock
   
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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) makes world prehistory uniquely accessible to complete beginners. KEY TOPICS: 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. MARKET: For individuals who want to get acquainted with anthropology.

Features

  • NEW - Entire book has been thoroughly revised–Includes new sites and examples.
  • NEW - Coverage of the latest advances in our knowledge of human origins and the emergence of modern humans–Includes the latest fossil discoveries.
  • NEW - Additional material has been added on the first Americans, the first settlement of northeastern Siberia, and the earliest civilizations.
  • Simple, balanced, narrative account of world/human prehistory.

    • Allows both students and instructors to achieve a broad overview.

  • 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.

  • Ample boxed material–In each chapter. Science boxes introduce key dating methods and other scientific approaches. 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.

    • Provides background on basic scientific methods and key sites.

  • Expansive art program–Features photographs, fresh line art, and clear chronological tables. Captions integrate the illustrations closely into the text.

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



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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