People of the Earth: An Introduction to World Prehistory

by Fagan, Brian M.

• ISBN13: 9780130283214
• ISBN10: 0130283215
• Edition: 10th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-10-01
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Summary

This internationally renowned text provides the only truly global account of human prehistory from the earliest times through the earliest civilizations. Written in an accessible way, "People of the Earth "shows how today' s diverse humanity developed biologically and culturally over millions of years against a background of constant climatic change.

Table of Contents

Preface	xvii
Author's Note	xxi
About the Author	xxii
Introducing World Prehistory	2	(27)
PART I BEGINNINGS	29	(88)
6 Million to 40,000 Years Ago
Human Origins: The Emergence of Early Human Ancestors	30	(42)
Homo erectus and Homo sapiens sapiens: 1.9 Million to 40,000 Years Ago	72	(45)
PART II THE GREAT DIASPORA: THE SPREAD OF MODERN HUMANS	117	(112)
45,000 Years Ago to Modern Times
Europe and Eurasia: c. 40,000 to 8000 B.C.	118	(32)
The First Americans: ? 14,000 B.C. to Modern Times	150	(34)
Africans and Australians: 45,000 Years Ago to Modern Times	184	(20)
Intensification and Complexity: Before 10,000 B.C. to Modern Times	204	(25)
PART III FIRST FARMERS	229	(136)
C. 10,000 B.C. to Modern Times
A Plenteous Harvest: The Origins	230	(22)
The Origins of Food Production in Southwest Asia	252	(18)
The First European Farmers	270	(22)
First Farmers in Egypt and Tropical Africa	292	(12)
Asia and the Pacific: Rice, Roots, and Ocean Voyages	304	(24)
The Story of Maize: Early Farmers in the Americas	328	(37)
PART IV OLD WORLD CIVILIZATIONS	365	(164)
C. 3000 B.C. to Modern Times
The Development of Civilization	366	(22)
Early Civilizations in Southwest Asia	388	(22)
Egypt, Nubia, and Africa	410	(40)
Early States in South and Southeast Asia	450	(26)
Early Chinese Civilization	476	(12)
Hittites, Minoans, and Mycenaeans	488	(22)
Europe Before the Romans	510	(19)
PART V NATIVE AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS	529	(76)
2000 B.C. to A.D. 1534
Mesoamerican Civilizations	530	(42)
Andean States	572	(33)
Glossary of Sites and Cultures	605	(3)
Bibliography of World Prehistory	608	(16)
Credits	624	(2)
Index	626