Human Prehistory
Human Prehistory
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$117.00
USDThis book provides a concise overview of human prehistory. It shows how an understanding of the distant past offers new perspectives on present-day challenges facing our species - and how we can build a sustainable future for all life on planet Earth. Deborah Barsky tells a fascinating story of the long-term evolution of human culture and provides up-to-date examples from the archaeological record to illustrate the different phases of human history. Barsky also presents a refreshing and original analysis about issues plaguing modern globalized society, such as racism, institutionalized religion, the digital revolution, human migrations, terrorism, and war. Written in an accessible and engaging style, Human Prehistory is aimed at an introductory-level audience. Students will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the interdisciplinary, scientific study of human prehistory, as well as the theoretical interpretations of human evolutionary processes that are used in contemporary archaeological practice. Definitions, tables, and illustrations accompany the text.
- Provides an evolutionary point of view for understanding contemporary issues challenging the human species, which will help readers to better understand and deal with present-day problems facing human societies in a globalised world.
- Provides concrete examples from the archaeological record to illustrate the different phases of human evolution, giving credence to theoretical interpretations of the human evolutionary trajectory.
- Renders seemingly complex scientific data about prehistory accessible to a wide audience.
- Different disciplines involved in studying prehistory are presented to students in a coherent, understandable and synthetic way.
Reviews & endorsements
'Barsky's groundbreaking book is of enormous importance to researchers in a wide range of disciplines who are concerned with the impact of technology, for good and for ill, on human bio-cultural evolution. The book is a major contribution to our understanding of this evolution and its implications for the 'progressive divorce from nature' that our cultural and technological development has entailed.' Paul J. Thibault, professor in linguistics and communication studies, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
'Hitherto, not since Gordon Childe's Man Makes Himself (1951 (1936)) has a book on prehistory and archaeology highlighted its author's concerns about those contemporary environmental and societal concerns that colour debates over the forseeable future that upcoming generations will inherit. Those generations deserve this book.' M. Walker, Antiquity
'Human Prehistory: Exploring the Past to Understand the Future, is a testament to the fundamental importance of the past.' Brad Lepper, The Columbus Dispatch
'Deborah Barsky's book is a valiant, welcome attempt to stimulate the general public to take an interest in prehistory.' Michael J. Walker, Antiquity
Product details
August 2022Hardback
9781316515426
258 pages
260 × 182 × 11 mm
0.69kg
Temporarily unavailable - available from TBC
Table of Contents
- 1. An introduction to Prehistoric Archeology
- 2. Prehistory as a multidisciplinary science
- 3. Becoming human
- 4. The emergence of Lower Paleolithic cultures
- 5. The ascent of Paleolithic cultures
- 6. Conquest: the final phases of the Stone Age
- 7. The new world order following the Paleolithic
- 8. Communication networking and the end of the Prehistoric Era
- 9. Global warming: natural climatic trend or humanly induced phenomena? 10. Human distortions and alienation from nature
- 11. Who are we? Ancient and modern human migrations
- 12. On religion, war and terrorism in the globalized world
- 13. The role of prehistory in understanding the modern human condition.
