People of the Earth: An Introduction to World Prehistory, 16th Edition

People of the Earth is a narrative account of the prehistory of humankind from our origins over 6 million years ago to the first pre-industrial states, beginning about 5,000 years ago. This is a global prehistory, which covers prehistoric times in every corner of the world in a jargon-free style for newcomers to archaeology. Many world histories begin with the first pre-industrial states. This book starts at the beginning of human history and summarizes the latest research into such major topics as human origins, the emergence and spread of modern humans, the first farming, and the origins of civilization. People of the Earth is unique in its even balance of the human past, its readily accessible style, and its flowing narrative that carries the reader through the long sweep of our past. The book is highly illustrated and features boxes and sidebars describing key dating methods and important archaeological sites. This classic world prehistory sets the standard for books on the subject and is the most widely used such textbook in the world. It is aimed at introductory students in archaeology and anthropology taking survey courses on the prehistoric past, as well as more advanced readers. It will also appeal to students of human responses to climatic and environmental change. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 About the Authors 10 Preface 11 A Note on the World Wide Web 13 Acknowledgments 14 Authors’ Note 15 Chapter 1 Introducing World Prehistory 16 Part I Beginnings 7 Million to 40,000 Years Ago 36 Chapter 2 Origins: c. 7 Million to 1.9 Million Years Ago 37 Chapter 3 Archaic Humans: c. 1.9 Million to 40,000 Years Ago 68 Part II The Great Diaspora: The Origins and Spread of Modern Humans (c. 350,000 Years Ago to Modern Times) 96 Chapter 4 Origins and the Diaspora Begins (c. 350,000 Years Ago and Later) 97 Chapter 5 Europe and Eurasia (c. 50,000 to 10,000 Years Ago) 118 Chapter 6 The First Americans: Around 23,000 Years Ago to Modern Times 141 Chapter 7 After the Ice: Circa 10,000 BC to Modern Times 164 Part III First Farmers (c. 10,000 BC to Modern Times) 182 Chapter 8 Agriculture and Animal Domestication 183 Chapter 9 The Origins of Food Production in Southwest Asia 198 Chapter 10 The First European Farmers 212 Chapter 11 First Farmers in Egypt and Tropical Africa 226 Chapter 12 Asia and the Pacific: Rice, Roots, and Ocean Voyages 234 Chapter 13 The Story of Maize: Early Farmers in the Americas 251 Part IV Old World States (c. 3000 BC to Modern Times) 278 Chapter 14 The Development of States 279 Chapter 15 Early States in Southwest Asia 294 Chapter 16 Egypt, Nubia, and Tropical Africa 309 Chapter 17 Early States in South and Southeast Asia 335 Chapter 18 Early Chinese States 353 Chapter 19 Hittites, Minoans, and Mycenaeans 362 Chapter 20 Europe Before the Romans 376 Part V Native American States Before 2000 BC to AD 1534 390 Chapter 21 Mesoamerican States 391 Chapter 22 Andean States 421 Glossary of Technical Terms 446 Bibliography of World Prehistory 450 Credits 474 Index 476 early;,Brian,M.,Fagan;,late;,islands;,Nadia,Durrani;,southwest;,asia;,palau;,food;,production;,ice;,age early,Brian M. Fagan,late,islands,Nadia Durrani,southwest,asia,palau,food,production,ice,age "People of the Earth is a narrative account of the prehistory of humankind from our origins over 3 million years ago to the first pre-industrial states, beginning about 5,000 years ago. This is a global prehistory, which covers prehistoric times in every corner of the world, in a jargon-free style for newcomers to archaeology. Many world histories begin with the first pre-industrial states. This book starts at the beginning of human history and summarizes the latest research into such major topics as human origins, the emergence and spread of modern humans, the first farming, and the origins of civilization. People of the Earth is unique in its even balance of the human past, in its readily accessible style, and its flowing narrative that carries the reader through the long sweep of our past. The book is highly illustrated, and features boxes and sidebars describing key dating methods and important archaeological sites. This classic world prehistory sets the standard for books on the subject and is the most widely used such textbook in the world. It is aimed at introductory students in archaeology and anthropology taking survey courses on the prehistoric past, as well as more advanced readers. It will also appeal to students of human responses to climatic and environmental change"-- Provided by publisher