Product Description
Interdisciplinary in approach and topical in focus, the sixth edition of The Humanistic Tradition continues to bring to life humankind's creative legacy.With more than 800 illustrations and some 150 literary sources in accessible translations, this widely acclaimed humanities survey takes a global perspective that is at once selective and engaging, and helps students better understand the relationship between world cultures.Available in multiple formats, The Humanistic Tradition examines the political, economic, and social contexts out of which history's most memorable achievements emerged. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Love it!
I got this book for my world civilizations class, but decided after I looked at it that this was staying on the coffee table. Lots of great and beautiful pictures, clear textual information, and a generally presentable format make this a good investment for anyone interested in an overview of ancient civilizations. ... Read more

Product Description

World Prehistory and Archaeology: Pathways through Time integrates world prehistory with a discussion of archaeological methods and techniques—emphasizing the relevance of how we know what we know about our human prehistory, providing the tools to allow for a lifelong engagement with archaeology and drawing students into the process of archaeological research and discovery. 

Chazan brings students right up to the cutting edge of archaeological research by presenting the most recent discoveries and theoretical perspectives.  How we know the past is inseparable from what we know of the past. This new text allows students to see that archaeology is a dynamic field in which knowledge is continuously refined through scientific inquiry while providing a sense of the relevance of archaeology in the contemporary world. 

As the cornerstone of this book is to present an integrated picture of prehistory as an active process of discovery, we cannot relegate methodological issues to the opening chapters alone.  While the introduction to archaeological method in the first two chapters is necessary, the questions of how we know the past cannot be abandoned at that point.  A number of features have been developed to draw together an integrated presentation of prehistory throughout the entire text.

Customer Reviews (2)

For World Prehistory, this book is very reliable
I got it within the weekend as I lived in the same state, so I didn't have to worry about falling behind in class.
Great condition
Great material

Intro to Archaeology
I used this book for my Intro to Archaeology class. The inside of the book was very clean and not written on. The outside front cover was folded at the top-right hand corner. I don't know if it was due to the shipping or if the seller had described that in the description. All in all, good purchase, good experience. ... Read more

Product Description

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 makes world prehistory uniquely accessible to complete beginners.

World Prehistory 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.

Customer Reviews (3)

Very Satisfied!
I'm very happy with this purchase... it was in excellent condition and came very quickly.Thank you.

Man's origins and developments for the general reader
Man's innate curiosity with their past has given birth to sciences that attempt to satisfy such curiosity. Brian Fagan, an archaeologist himself, outlines brilliantly the major developments of humankind in prehistory, from that scientific perspective. Sophisticated theories and tools from disciplines such archaeology, biology, ecology, geology and even genetics and psychology are elaborated for the general reader. Utilising such diversity of disciplines, World Prehistory introduces to the reader, the developments of humankind- the origins, exodus and migration of man, food production and state formation- from the earliest times especially before written records were available.

Even before Fagan gets into details, he outlines the scope of the book and distinguishes the discipline of archaeology insofar as it is scientific, rigorous and it utilises tools and expertise from other disciplines. Throughout the book, there are scientific archaeological explanations in the form of theories, data and methodologies and at the very onset, the author derides the "romantic world of high adventure and exciting discovery" connected to pseudoarcheaology, which to him belongs to the "realms of religious faith and science fiction".

The book is divided into 4 parts in a generally chronological arrangement. The first part introduces to the reader the study of human prehistory with succinct explanations of the concepts of history, culture, space and time. Part 2 outlines scientific approaches to explain the origins of mankind and his relationships with other primates. The author draws evidence from geology, genetics and most importantly, paleoanthropology (the specialized study of human bone remains). Part 2 also presents one of the most controversial questions in anthropology, that is the path of migration of modern man. The author favours the "African exodus Theory"" and describes it in detail. Part 3 is a discussion of the birth of the modern world with special emphasis on the origins of food production, one of the hallmarks of ancient civilisations. The book culminates in Part 4, with very broad discussions on ancient civilisations in Western Asia, Africa, South, Southeast and East Asia and the Americas.

As an introductory book to world prehistory, it lacks detailed study of other aspects of prehistoric mankind's developments especially in the fields of language, religion and a new, exciting and only recently explored field of psychological archaeology, dealing with the minds and thinking of the earliest humans. The latter, the author concedes, must go beyond material remains and develop new ways to explore the minds of the earliest humans and understand why they developed the way they did.

However, as with most introductory books, World Prehistory can only describe its subject matter at surface level. However, after reading the book, I have obtained a general sense of the methods and theories that attempt to explain with the period of human history which was not recorded in writing. With so many theories, methods and even non-scientific explanations of mankind's ancient past, World Prehistory is a good book to introduce a reader to the latest and most widely accepted tools, methodologies and theories.

A very decent book
This book is not designed for the hardcore anthropology student as it doesn't delve into the extreme details of the subject, but it does give a very broad overview of the millions of years of human prehistory.Most ofthe time is spent talking about the journey from ape-like ancestors to theorigin of food production and the large state-run societies that we havetoday.Therefore, when Fagan talks about specific cultures and societieshe just gives an overview, he chooses to put most details to use describingwhy and how humans got to where they are today.Very good book is you wantan effective and interesting introduction to human origins, but this isn'tsomething that would be used for a 300 or 400 level class. ... Read more

Product Description
'To qualify as human, a hominid has, so to say, to justify himself by works: the criteria are no longer biological so much as cultural'. Professor Grahame Clark goes on to trace the origins and development of human culture, in all its diversity, throughout the world. He follows the intellectual, material and social progress of mankind in each major region, from the earliest stone industries of two million years ago to the gradual and still incomplete attainment of literacy over the last five thousand years. He takes full account of peoples still preliterate when encountered in recent times by anthropologists as well as of those which nourished the great historic civilizations of mankind. Throughout he emphasized the close relationship between environment and the character and speed of cultural development. The archaeological record on which we have to rely for the greater part of man's early history is still incomplete but the spread of excavation and the almost universal adoption of radiocarbon dating do now make possible a provisional but integrated account of world prehistory. This edition contains a much more detailed and up-to-date coverage of the various territories, particularly America and Australasia, than did its predecessors. The narrative is generously illustrated with photographs, drawings and maps, and there is a carefully selected list of references to the main sources used. This provides a bibliography designed to give access to the whole of man's history before written records began. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Still Relevant
I'm surprised at how relevant this text still is given the time that's passed since its publication. Much has occurred in the fields of anthropology and archaeology in the years since, but Clark has presented us with a durable baseline of information that makes for a solid overview of world prehistory even today. ... Read more

Product Description
The Illustrated History of the World is a lavishly illustrated edition of J. M. Roberts's bestselling History of the World. Now completely revised and updated, each volume of this comprehensive reference work traces the tumultuous story of humankind from prehistory to the end of the 20th century. The rise and fall of civilizations; the impact of powerful individuals on world events; the interplay of state and religion; the social and economic factors that influence societies--these are some of the themes of this masterful, sweeping narrative. Over 2,000 photographs in color and black-and-white present a unique visual panoply of the march of history. In addition, more than 200 maps and artworks in full color underscore important events. Fully integrated sidebars and feature boxes narrow in on key themes, providing an additional layer of interest. Each volume also contains a double-page, illustrated chronology of major events, plus a bibliography and detailed index. Authoritative, brilliantly written, and superbly illustrated, this outstanding and popular work of scholarship makes the whole sweep of history vivid and accessible as never before. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Cover Damage
"Great value - great shipping (time) - answered no to second question --- top edge of both covers had a serious shipping "dent" that better packaging might have prevented (instead of just a vinyl envelope, as mentioned by other customers) - Vinyl envelope does NOT do the job!!! The cheap packing allows more profit on shipping charges - suggest spend 15 - 20 cents on bubble wrap. Thanks --"

A nice start to a wonderful series
This book is the first volume in the wonderful Illustrated History of the World Series. This one covers human history from the evolutionary advent of mankind, through the earliest civilizations, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and finally the Assyrian empire. Along the way, the reader is treated to many colorful maps and pictures, and interesting sidebars.

This book is very good, and a give a nice start to a wonderful series. I found the book to be interesting, and quite accurate in its data. Overall, I liked the book, and highly recommend it.

Well-Written and Beautifully Illustrated Introduction
This is volume one of a ten volume series called The Illustrated History of the World. This first volume covers the origins of the human race through the first civilizations. It is divided into two sections There are three chapters in the first section which is called Before History. The first chapter is on our primate precursors. The second chapter deals with early Homo Sapiens, and the third chapter discusses the earliest beginnings of civilized behaviors like agriculture, animal domestication, metallurgy, and community life.

The second section covers the earliest civilizations and consists of four chapters. Although the book states that there are seven ancient civilizations (Mesopotamia, Crete, Egypt, India, China, Meso-America, and the Andes), it only focuses on the two earliest: Mesopotamia and Egypt. The second volume in the series discusses the early cultures of India and China and then moves on to discuss the early Greeks.

The book is filled with beautiful color illustrations. Every page has at least one and most are photographs of artifacts, art works, or scenes. The text is a bit conservative, only giving the most accepted interpretations of evidence and not mentioning other proposed theories. This makes it a good basic introduction and outline, but may be less useful to someone who wants to look at these subjects in greater depth. The lack of any bibliography of further readings is also a drawback for those wanting to seek more information. The type face is large and the lines are amply spaced. Couple this with the copious illustrations and the book is actually a very quick read for its size and length. It is a few steps above the approach of Dorling Kindersley books that are predominately illustrations with supporting text. With Roberts, the text is the major part, but the illustrations are definitely more than an after thought. This is a good introduction for the general reader. It is not going to be a lasting reference book that you will turn to again and again. Read it once and move on. ... Read more

Product Description
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. ... Read more

Product Description
The Human Past has established itself as the most authoritative introduction to social, cultural, and economic developments in human prehistory.Using a regional and chronological framework, this groundbreaking bookhighlights the enormous diversity of human experience and the ways inwhich archaeologists are able to learn about it.

Professor Chris Scarre has seamlessly integrated the work of aninternational team of archaeologists from North America, Europe,Australia, and New Zealand. The result is a unique textbook thatengagingly and comprehensively embraces the entire expanse of humanprehistory while also offering the most up-to-date accounts of separateregions and periods by the leading specialists in these areas. There arehundreds of maps, diagrams, and photographs, many in full color, aswell as timelines and boxes on key sites, methods, discoveries, andcontroversies.

For the second edition, the text has been thoroughly updated to includerecent discoveries and new interpretations from around the world. Thecoverage of archaeology in the Middle East is expanded to include theJiroft excavations in Iran and the Late Bronze Age in Qatna, Syria. TheAmericas section includes new dates for Clovis sites and new informationon Kennewick man. There is also a new discussion on the link betweenclimate change in Mesoamerica and the many historical changes: theClassic Maya collapse, in particular. 770 illustrations, 219 in color ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great synthesis!
The Human Past is an indispensable guide to world prehistory & introductory archaeological methods.It is an edited volume with each chapter written by one or two experts focusing on a particular region/time period.The result is that each individual chapter is a stand-alone synthetic treatment of, for example, the prehistory/archaeology of Holocene Europe or South Asia.Equal treatment seems to be given to both New and Old World developments, a quality many other World Prehistory Textbooks lack!

The timelines & maps in each chapter allow a comparative perspective both geographically and temporally.It is visually pleasing, logically laid out, and relatively inexpensive as far as introductory textbooks go.In my opinion, this book has a place on any Anthropology undergraduate or graduate student's bookshelf! ... Read more

Product Description
A groundbreaking introductory world prehistory textbook that presents the vast panorama of human social, cultural, and economic development over three million years.

Unlike other books on prehistory, The Human Past recognizes that the wealth of archaeological research is now too great to be competently within the grasp of a single expert. Here a team of leading archaeologists from North America, Europe, and Australasia, well-known specialists in their fields, provide a seamless, authoritative account of human prehistory.

The Human Past highlights the enormous diversity of human experience and the ways in which archaeologists are able to learn about it. It provides an introductory account that takes the student through the human past on a regional and chronological framework, focusing as much on the archaeology of the everyday as on the spectacular and unusual. The text is accompanied by hundreds of specially commissioned diagrams and photographs, many in full color, that illustrate key sites, artifacts, and regions, as well as clear timelines and maps for each chapter.

The most thorough yet accessible introduction ever published, the book can be used either as a single core text or in combination with other readings. 700 illustrations, 500 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

very slow shipment
The book condition is fine, but it really shouldn't take more than a week to ship, let alone 3. I was on the verge of canceling because of another bad review so unless if you have all the time in the world, I wouldn't suggest buying a textbook from this source. ... Read more

Product Description
This wide-ranging, chronological summary of the main cultural, scientific, religious, and political events from the beginning of world history to the eve of the French Revolution is accompanied by detailed maps that clarify complex historical situations and make this an essential reference book for students and for the home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Penguin Atlas of World History
This two book set is the same as the old Anchor Atlas of World History though volume 2 has been updated to bring the set more or less to the present.I fell in love with the Anchor Atlas set to the point I wore out my first set so I bought a second set.Then the publisher took the book out of print.It stayed that way until the last couple of years when Penguin took over.

These atlases are perhaps the most comprehensive of any similar books on the market.One or two come close, but I think Penguin's atlas is still the best if you are looking for a brief overview.Critics say the print is too small or the content is not detailedenough.I disagree with both criticisms.I believe a historical atlas should be brief.The intent is to cover an event and depict it in maps.If in depth analysis is wanted, then find a book dedicated to the particular topic.

I bring these books with me whenever I travel and want something to read.In fact, back in high school we had a group assignment of what books we would bring along if we were to be stranded on a desert island.I convinced my group these books were worthy of such a list.With them back in print I can finally discard my first set (the glue binding disintegrated leaving me with single pages.I bought this set to the cabin for casual reading up there.Now I can bring my first replacement set up there.

I just can't say enough good things about these books.I did notice a flaw in a map label in volume 2 that has not been corrected since the initial publication.In a map showing the early United States they label as "Minnesota Territory" those lands which were originally the Wisconsin Territory after Michigan gained statehood.This flaw leads me to wonder about other maps whose labels I'm not as well versed it.But overall I still remain very impressed with this set.Anyone who buys this set for what it is: an introduction to the topics it presents accompanied by detailed maps, will not be disappointed.

Pound for pound the best there is...no contest
I have loved maps and history for longer than I care to admit and I was fortunate enough to have a father who shared these interests and provided a fertile and far-ranging "garden" of books for my edification and enjoyment growing up.One of my favorites was this book.The story skips ahead many years--I decided to look for this book, which had been out of print or at least unavailable for a long time.I found it here on Amazon and ordered it, along with another larger highly touted atlas from another publisher (rated #1 by another reviewer).Much to my delight and surprise, the Penguin atlas has aged quite well (to be expected given the period covered).Its strength lies in the abundance and thoroughness of the map coverage--where other atlases give one map, this one often gives three or more--and in the "extracurricular" material such as diagrams illustrating governmental organization.Incidentally, I was sorely disappointed in the other atlas, which cost far more and sported foolish and uninformative cartographic projections as well as such vast lacunae in coverage as to render it virtually worthless as a serious reference.

As I see it, the heart of any atlas worth its salt must be its maps and this compact, user-friendly little volume offers such a wealth of these that it exposes other historical atlases as the patchy, inadequate waste of paper most of them are.I don't buy an atlas for text--though this atlas has excellent if necessarily skeletal narrative accompaniment--I buy it for the maps, to complement my reading.There's nothing sillier than an "atlas" that overdoes it on the text at the expense of the maps; oddly enough, Penguin also publishes some of what I consider the worst atlases available today (see their atlas of the Roman Empire for a prime example)--go figure.

Really this atlas does everything right.My sole complaint is the small size, but this could just as easily be considered a plus (for portability, ease of use, etc.); if only there were a large format historical atlas to match--I'm still looking for a worthy counterpart.

Historical Atlas, Priceless, Missing Three Big Things
I am providing the same review for Volumes I and II.

The two volumes, together, represent an essential and priceless reference replete with details as well as clever visualizations.I venture to say that it is not possible to understand the sway of history in all its forms without such an atlas.It is, however, missing three big things:

1)Consolidated edition, larger print and larger pages.The gold in these two volumes is devalued by the reductions.Enough.Update it for 2009 and let's get it right.It makes no sense to have to use one volume for the Middle East prior to the French Revolution, another for afterwards.

2.I could not find, in the book or via an online search, an online version of the consolidated books or even one of the books.I regard it as *essential* that Penguin begin to transition all of its excellent knowledge, and especially its atlases, into interactive online form so that one can, for example, flip through any region or topic (e.g. Islam or US imperialism) and "see" history passing before one's eyes.

3.There a re a handful of automated time series depictions, e.g. of the spread and contraction of religions, the spead and contraction of various empires.We need that from Penguin for every country, every region, and every threat and policy, and I list them here from the UN High-Level Threat Panel and Earth Intelligence Network:

Poverty
Infectious Disease
Environmental Degradation
Inter-State Conflict
Civil War
Genocide
Other Atrocities
Proliferation
Terrorism
Transnational Crime

Agriculture
Diplomacy
Economy
Education
Energy
Family
Health
Immigration
Justice
Security
Society
Water

I am deeply impressed by the quality and focus on Penguin Publications.It's time they discovered the 21st Century and the demand of Digital Natives as well as global strategists for coherent holistic online visualization and sense-making.

Here are other books on history that I consider exceptional, each with a summative review:
The Lessons of History
The Landscape of History: How Historians Map the Past
Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & 'Project Truth'
Web of Deceit: The History of Western Complicity in Iraq, from Churchill to Kennedy to George W. Bush
The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic (The American Empire Project)
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus
Fog Facts: Searching for Truth in the Land of Spin
The Age of Missing Information

And for the future:
Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace

Another great historical atlas from Penguin
This entire series is superb and is absolutely essential for any lover of historical atlases. I have been an owner of virtually all of them for at ten years and I can honestly say that they are most read books of all that I own.

The reason is their unique portability and scope. Most historical atlas are huge, heavy and expensive. They are difficult to read unless you are sitting at a table and very difficult to carry. This limits their utility (even though I still love them). Most history books have lots of dense detail about one nation or one period. Virtually none cover the broad sweep of an entire region over centuries.

While the Colin McEvedy line of Penguin Historical Atlases (which I highly recommend) is more map oriented, the Kinder/Hilgemann line is much more text oriented. It starts in the late 18th Century and ends just after the Cold War. As its title suggests, it literally covers the entire world, although it is heavily biased towards Europe. In an effort to cover everything, the authors makes frequent use of abbreviations and symbols. This is a little annoying, but you get used to it.

Like all Penguin Historical Atlases, it is small, light, reasonably priced and incredibly broad in scope. These atlases offer a unique perspective on history than is otherwise impossible to achieve. Their size and weight make them perfect for travelling. Whenever I go on a trip, I take the most relevant ones with me. That way I can brush up on my history of the region.

What is most fun for me is to trace the history or one nation, province or sub-region through the entire atlas. In just a few minutes I can learn as much as spending days reading an entire book. You can also see how individual nations interact with each other, a subject often left out of typical history books.

atlas review
I hate this book.Print is tiny.Info is cryptic.I waited too long to return it. Darn. ... Read more

Product Description
Rather than the typical treatment of isolation, this comprehensive survey provides a view of African history in the wider context of World History. The volume illustrates how Africans have influenced regions beyond the continent's borders, how they have been influenced from outside, and how internal African developments can be compared and contrasted to those elsewhere in the world. Identifying and presenting key debates within the field of African History, this volume encourages readers to address many oversimplified myths regarding the continent and its people.Topics include Africa and human origins, the geography and environment, north and northeast Africa in early world history, migrations, technology and culture in ancient Africa, the early Christian world, the spread of Islam, slavery and the creation of the Atlantic world, colonialism and Africa resistance, modern Africa in the global industrial economy, political change in the time of colonialism, African culture in the modern world, politics in the era of decolonization and independence and contemporary Africa.For individuals interested in a comprehensive and contemporary survey of African History. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Africa in World History
Item was exactly as described. Quick shipping and packaged well. Would buy from this seller again!

brilliant
I found this to be a excellent introduction to African History.The authors present the complexity of African History very well and do so in a way that is respectful to Africans.I especially appriciated the attention to common mistakes about Africa.

Africa in World History Review
This book is good, except it does not use the most academic language. It seems to be for high school or middle school readers rather than college or beyond.

Body-State Metaphor
I began looking at the dramatic changes in Tanzania with several Middle School students when a parent suggested this book by Reynolds. It is certainly a good read. Our first exposure to the world's oldest political metaphor (body-state metaphor of Aesop's Fable BELLY and the MEMBERS) came through a friend in Cameroon, another influential ex-colony. The list goes on and it was hard for us to pick a favorite chapter. We will place this one next to our most popular non-textbook. ... Read more

Product Description
Part of McGraw-Hill's Explorations in World History series, this brief and accessible volume presents a comparative survey of the early history of women from a global perspective.Each chapter, which can be read independently of the others, examines the experiences of women in one of seven civilizations typically covered in an introductory world history text: pre-agricultural societies, the Ancient Mediterranean, Gupta India/Southeast Asia, Tang/Song China, Maya and Aztec cultures, early Islam through the Abbasid caliphate, and Europe in the Late Middle Ages.Within these cultures, the authors explore a variety of issues impacting the lives of females in pre-modern history, including the ideal woman, female life cycles, women's roles in work and economy, female sexuality and spirituality, and women and politics.The book's brevity makes it an excellent companion text for students in world history, women's history, introductory sociology and anthropology courses, and women’s studies courses. ... Read more

Product Description
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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A great survey
I, too, read this book in college. I was checking Amazon to find information about the current Edition - I read the other two reviews and felt compelled to write the following review based on the edition I own (7th Ed., 1992).

This book is an excellent survey of the origins of humans and human society/culture from an anthropological perspective, i.e. theories and interpretations based on the material record. The 7th edition is divided into six sections, the first three of which include an introduction to studying prehistory, the earliest humans, and a regional preview of the earliest finds. Section 4 is devoted entirely to the development of agriculture around the world. The current edition may be organized differently, of course...my point is that this is a book about 'Prehistory', the archaeological record, and theories of the formations of human societies and settlements (as opposed to classical history/western civ). After four of the six sections, you've read 14 chapters and some 400 pages and you're just getting to the earliest known cities, circa 8,000 BCE. Fagan necessarily devotes a lot of space to the evidence and possibilities of agriculture, but there is much more here: diagrams of sites, explanations of the artifacts and technologies, other evidence (e.g. pollen found in deep sea cores, paleo-climatology, etc), great maps, timelines and photos, interpretations and speculations to make you ponder.

The material can be dense and the writing style may be too 'old-world academic' for some tastes, but the book contains a wealth of information and the average college reader won't require a dictionary on every other page to get through it. A rewarding, if sometimes challenging read.

A decent introduction to world prehistory
"People of the Earth" is not the first of Fagan's books I have read; I studied "Clash of Cultures" for another purpose, although it allowed me to learn the author's style. Fagan is often perceived as "wordy" by most students, but I refuse to carry such a pernicious, pejorative burden in my critical rhetoric. I must acknowledge that here, as in "Clash of Cultures," it seems he devoted more time than necessary to certain subjects, perhaps revealing a certain degree of bias. I posit that he is not biased as much as he is esoteric.

"People of the Earth" is a worthy, detailed introduction to world prehistory, mentioning more detail than many university courses will synthesize. The prose in this text is occasionally challenging but ultimately enthralling if held to closer inspection. Oddities therein may appear in certain instances, but to delineate them would be to disregard scope and argue from semantic analysis alone. This text is not perfect, but no text is ever perfect. Still, it is an excellently accessible textbook given the breadth of information it must provide.

Uninformative, unhelpful, uninteresting- a bore!!
I read this book for a college Archeology course I was taking.I have always been facinated by the subject so I was excited for the class and I couldn't wait to get at the textbook.To my great disappointment, this is probably the worst text I have ever encountered.
The auther takes three pages to say what could be summerized in a few paragraphs.His intent in writings seems to be more along the lines of trying to impress the reader with his intelligence rather than trying to give good information.
What frustraited me most was the KINDS of information he gave on different cultures.He litterally spent over half the book talking about the migration habits of the various forms of prehistoic man around the world; and then litterally only THREE PAGES covering ALL of Greek and Roman history.
He emphasized farming and animal husbandry habits of the different cultures to almost the complete exclusion of topics like government, building construction, city planning, social structure, art, etc.He would take a people, like the Egyptians, and spend pages and pages telling you exactly what kind of crops they grew, how the Nile helped them grow those crops, and what kind of animals they probably kept.Period.With all we know about their culture, this author chose to sum up the thousands of years of Egyptian history in 13 pages, telling the reader only about theories on their early migration and thier farming strategies.I felt I knew more about half the cultures covered in this text just by watching the odd special on the Discovery Channel. ... Read more

Product Description
Annual Editions is a series of over 65 volumes, each designed to provide convenient, inexpensive access to a wide range of current articles from some of the most respected magazines, newspapers, and journals published today. Annual Editions are updated on a regular basis through a continuous monitoring of over 300 periodical sources. The articles selected are authored by prominent scholars, researchers, and commentators writing for a general audience. The Annual Editions volumes have a number of common organizational features designed to make them particularly useful in the classroom: a general introduction; an annotated table of contents; a topic guide; an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites; and a brief overview for each section. Each volume also offers an online Instructor's Resource Guide with testing materials. Using Annual Editions in the Classroom is the general instructor's guide for our popular Annual Editions series and is available in print (0073301906) or online.Visit www.mhcls.com for more details. ... Read more

Product Description
Teaching history should not be reciting an endless list of dead men, entombed between the covers of a textbook. Instead, Breaking Away from the Textbook offers a fascinating journey through world history. Not a comprehensive, theory-heavy guide, this book focuses on active classroom activities, methods for students to grapple with humanity's issues, and innovative ways to show students the relevance of the past to the world today. Simply put, this book makes world history fun. Soon, your students will be busy debating, thinking, applying, and learning about information that will stay with them for a lifetime. The key to this wonderful work is its incorporation of various disciplines including art, music, and writing to create a fun and active classroom. Volume 1 covers prehistory to the Renaissance and volume 2 covers the Enlightenment to the 20th century. Includes pictures and drawings, appendices, indexes, maps, and a bibliography. Appropriate for all grade levels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Lackluster
I am wondering if the rave reviewer of this product is related to or paid by the publisher.The lesson ideas were stale and at or below average creativity level.What's more, no support materials are included for any of the "phenomenal" project ideas presented.Examples of ideas include your standard letter writing, map drawing, journal entries, craft creating etc.Yet, not even any included rubrics to aid on prep time (which of course was my purpose in purchasing this book).This book does not decrease prep time and anyone with half a brain could come up with the ideas.Since the entire implementation still rests at the door of the teacher - with or without the book, I say, save your money.

A Must Have!
If you teach high school World History, you need this book! It is full of all sorts of great teaching and content ideas. It has writing activites, map activities, group activities and project ideas. There are research ideas and projects for your advanced students as well. I have used these in both my on-level and advanced classes. It has some great activity and media ideas as well. I have told everyone in my department about it and our campus has ordered a set of this series for our World History teachers. Our American history teachers then ordered the American set for themselves and have gotten some great ideas too. I cannot speak too highly about this book! ... Read more

Product Description

Have you seen World Prehistory and Archaeology: Pathways through Time yet?

World Prehistory and Archaeology: Pathways through Time integrates world prehistory with a discussion of archaeological methods and techniques--emphasizing the relevance of how we know what we know about our human prehistory.  It provides the tools to allow for a lifelong engagement with archaeology, and draws students into the process of archaeological research and discovery. 

The author, Michael Chazan, brings students to the cutting edge of archaeological research by presenting the most recent discoveries and theoretical perspectives.  For how we know the past is inseparable from what we know of the past.  His text allows students to see that archaeology is a dynamic field in which knowledge is continually refined through scientific inquiry--while providing a sense of the relevance of archaeology in the contemporary world. 

The cornerstone of this book presents an integrated picture of prehistory as an active process of discovery--where methodological issues are not relegated to the opening chapters alone.  While the introduction to archaeological methods in the first two chapters is necessary, the questions of how we know the past are not abandoned at that point.  In fact, a number of key features--found within every chapter--have been especially developed for this text in order to draw together an integrated presentation of prehistory for students.

So what are you waiting for?  Contact your local publisher's representative today for YOUR review copy and see how World Prehistory and Archaeology will be able to draw YOUR students into the amazing world of archaeological reserach and discovery!

Product Description
For decades the issue seemed moot. The first settlers, we were told, were big-game hunters who arrived from Asia at the end of the Ice Age some 12,000 years ago, crossing a land bridge at the Bering Strait and migrating south through an ice-free passage between two great glaciers blanketing the continent. But after years of sifting through data from diverse and surprising sources, the maverick scientists whose stories Lost World follows have found evidence to overthrow the "big-game hunter" scenario and reach a new and startling and controversial conclusion: The first people to arrive in North America did not come overland -- they came along the coast by water.

In this groundbreaking book, award-winning journalist Tom Koppel details these provocative discoveries as he accompanies the archaeologists, geologists, biologists, and paleontologists on their intensive search. Lost World takes readers under the sea, into caves, and out to the remote offshore islands of Alaska, British Columbia, and California to present detailed and growing evidence for ancient coastal migration. By accompanying the key scientists on their intensive investigations, Koppel brings to life the quest for that Holy Grail of New World prehistory: the first peopling of the Americas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Lost and Found
This was an excellent read.
I read a great deal of nonfiction, and a lot of books in the "paleo" category--many can best be described as "roaring bore"...NOT this one.

This book, although filled with all sorts of interesting science details and information, also reads a bit like Bill Bryson...giving it the "stranger in a strange land" sort of effect you find in the best of travel writing.
Even if you haven't got a background in geology or anthro, and the last time you heard of the "land bridge" to North America was 30 years ago in grade school, you will easily be able to follow the science & arguments made here for an alternate immigration scenario, and be able to appreciate the dedication and behind-the-scenes hard work of the scientists who have come up with the newer theories and the artifacts that support them.
I recommend this for anybody who was fascinated by the Nat. Geo.'s Spencer Wells, readers of Dr. Bryan Sykes (both on DNA studies of human migrations)...or anyone who just has a hankering to know about prehistory.
Great stuff!

Fascinating info, readably written
Lively and interesting narrative surrounds the technical info, making it easy to read and digest. For those of us who were never quite comfortable with the concept of trekking through the ice-free corridor (how desperate do you have to BE to get away from your in-laws??), here is a smart, alternative explanation for the discovery and settlement of the Americas.

A Prehistory History
Both a good summary of past ideas about the peopling of America, and a hands-on viewpoint of several specific searches.Unfortunately omits needed maps, index, and bibliography.Good for a first-time reader in the subject, with archeologists named (within the text) for further reading.

Readable guide to revisionist American prehistory
This is a narrative tale of how contemporary research is overturning long-held assumptions of how the Americas were first populated. It supports the new paradigm that the first Americans followed a coastal migration path from Asia, a path that has been largely submerged by the melting of the glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age. Part of the fascination of the book is its detailing of how scientists are trying to overcome the tremendous challenge of looking for artifacts that may be hundreds of feet under water, and succeeding. The other fascinating aspect is the demonstration of the all-too-human side of science: how egos and the competition for recognition can actually slow the discovery of new knowledge. This is where the story benefits from being told by a journalist - Koppel makes it sound like a suspenseful drama told in human terms.In comparison, as a lay reader I found archeologist Tom Dillehay's "Settlement of the Americas" too caught up in academic minutiae to be readable.
Some reviewers have faulted the author for injecting too much personal commentary. Aside from an unfortunate lapse where he names an early relic hunter and then labels him a "blockhead", I personally felt that his narration improved the account by providing a layman's perspective on how dedicated and specialized these scientists are in their approach. An excellent, highly readable overview of the people and ideas that are changing our view of American prehistory.

easy, interesting read
As an avid student of Native American history, I found this to be a fine "sitting by the fire" read.It contained enough technical info to keep it from being simplistic and tied together a lot of emerging information about the possible settling of the new world by sea.This area of great conflict among archaeologists deserves a lot more study than it is currently getting.Hopefully, this volumn will direct the interest of more people in this direction.
My five-star rating is based on this being a very interesting book on it's own to many people without extensive knowlege in the field, not to be compared with more technical volumes directed more toward hard-core professionals or academics.
I only wish there had been more photos, clearer photos and photos of artifacts, work sites and locations mentioned in the text rather than of people standing around. ... Read more

Product Description
B> From a truly global perspective, this narrative tells the story of human events on the move—the exciting "event history" of wars and politics, booms and busts, the rise and fall of empires, and more—as well as the broader development of human institutions and ideas as they evolve through time. Coverage of both events and broader trends is presented (a) as part of still larger global movements, (b) through the lives of the people who lived it, and (c) as succinctly and vividly as possible.The combined volume explores ancient civilizations of both the old-world center (3500-200 BCE) and Asia, Africa, and the Americas (2500-200 BCE); classical civilizations (500 BCE-CE 500) and expanding cultural zones around the world (500-1500); the world in balance (1350-1600); intercontinental empires (1500-1900); wars, revolutions, and dictatorships (1900-1945); and the cold war, collapsing empires, and globalization (1945-2000).For those interested in World History, Comparative History, Humanities and Civilization as well as Multicultural Studies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent point and good pointer for future studies
I brought same book (used from Amazon). It is an excellent books especially it had pretty good coverage from ancient civilization (Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Greek, Roman) to Medieval, to modern world. The coverage is pretty fair. I especially like the ancient history portion, well documented. However, medieval/middle ages is kind of short and abridged especially how Roman empire fall. But the book provided many good names/terms so you can search the web for some additional info. Overall very good book. ... Read more