Anthropology and Global History : From Tribes to the Modern World-System

Anthropology and Global History explains the origin and development of human societies and cultures from their earliest beginnings to the present—utilizing an anthropological lens but also drawing from sociology, economics, political science, history, and ecological and religious studies. Carmack reconceptualizes world history from a global perspective by employing the expansive concepts of “world-systems” and “civilizations,” and by paying deeper attention to the role of tribal and native peoples within this history. Rather than concentrating on the minute details of specific great events in global history, he shifts our focus to the broad social and cultural contexts in which they occurred. Carmack traces the emergence of ancient kingdoms and the characteristics of pre-modern empires as well as the processes by which the modern world has become integrated and transformed. The book addresses Western civilization as well as comparative processes which have unfolded in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa. Vignettes opening each chapter and case studies integrated throughout the text illustrate the numerous and often extremely complex historical processes which have operated through time and across local, regional, and global settings. Anthropology And Global History Explains The Origin And Development Of Human Societies And Cultures From Their Earliest Beginnings To The Present Utilizing An Anthropological Lens But Also Drawing From Sociology, Economics, Political Science, History, And Ecological And Religious Studies. Carmack Reconceptualizes World History From A Global Perspective By Employing The Expansive Concepts Of World-systems And Civilizations, And By Paying Deeper Attention To The Role Of Tribal And Native Peoples Within This History. Rather Than Concentrating On The Minute Details Of Specific Great Events In Global History, He Shifts Our Focus To The Broad Social And Cultural Contexts In Which They Occurred. Carmack Traces The Emergence Of Ancient Kingdoms And The Characteristics Of Pre-modern Empires As Well As The Processes By Which The Modern World Has Become Integrated And Transformed. The Book Addresses Western Civilization As Well As Comparative Processes Which Have Unfolded In Asia, The Middle East, Latin America, And Sub-saharan Africa. Vignettes Opening Each Chapter And Case Studies Integrated Throughout The Text Illustrate The Numerous And Often Extremely Complex Historical Processes Which Have Operated Through Time And Across Local, Regional, And Global Settings. "Anthropology and Global History: From Tribes to the Modern World-System explains the origin and development of human societies and cultures from their earliest beginnings to the present through an anthropological lens, also drawing from the findings of diverse social sciences, including sociology, economics, political science, history, and ecological and religious studies. It uses a "World-System" theoretical framework derived from the work of anthropologist Eric Wolf, sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein, and diverse other social scientists. Given the central place of theory in any credible and productive reconstruction of world history, balance is achieved by integrating intriguing but also relevant detailed and dramatic illustrations of the more general flow of history." -- Publisher website.