Author: Robert J. Wenke
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 636
Book Description
This comprehensive review of world prehistory is organized around the five topics central to archaeology: the origins of culture, the development of physically "modern" people, Pleistocene cultures, the establishment of agricultural economies, and the rise of complex states and empires. It presents a coherent philosophy of the field, reflecting the "new archaeology" of the 1960s and 70s while reviewing the methodological revisions of the 80s, and relates the archaeological data from hundreds of sites to the great questions of prehistorical change. Thoroughly revised and updated to include new scholarship and the most recent discoveries, the Third Edition features new material on the Neanderthals, Pleistocene cave art, and ancient Egypt, as well as many new illustrations and an analysis of modern archaeological theory within the context of Western intellectual history. Always clear and lively, Patterns in Prehistory is that rare book that will fascinate general readers and scholars alike.
Patterns in Prehistory
Author: Robert J. Wenke
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 636
Book Description
This comprehensive review of world prehistory is organized around the five topics central to archaeology: the origins of culture, the development of physically "modern" people, Pleistocene cultures, the establishment of agricultural economies, and the rise of complex states and empires. It presents a coherent philosophy of the field, reflecting the "new archaeology" of the 1960s and 70s while reviewing the methodological revisions of the 80s, and relates the archaeological data from hundreds of sites to the great questions of prehistorical change. Thoroughly revised and updated to include new scholarship and the most recent discoveries, the Third Edition features new material on the Neanderthals, Pleistocene cave art, and ancient Egypt, as well as many new illustrations and an analysis of modern archaeological theory within the context of Western intellectual history. Always clear and lively, Patterns in Prehistory is that rare book that will fascinate general readers and scholars alike.
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 636
Book Description
This comprehensive review of world prehistory is organized around the five topics central to archaeology: the origins of culture, the development of physically "modern" people, Pleistocene cultures, the establishment of agricultural economies, and the rise of complex states and empires. It presents a coherent philosophy of the field, reflecting the "new archaeology" of the 1960s and 70s while reviewing the methodological revisions of the 80s, and relates the archaeological data from hundreds of sites to the great questions of prehistorical change. Thoroughly revised and updated to include new scholarship and the most recent discoveries, the Third Edition features new material on the Neanderthals, Pleistocene cave art, and ancient Egypt, as well as many new illustrations and an analysis of modern archaeological theory within the context of Western intellectual history. Always clear and lively, Patterns in Prehistory is that rare book that will fascinate general readers and scholars alike.
Patterns in Prehistory
Author: Robert J. Wenke
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 540
Book Description
This comprehensive review of world prehistory is organized around the five topics central to archaeology: the origins of culture, the development of physically "modern" people, the Pleistocene cultures, the establishment of agricultural economies, and the rise of complex states and empires. It presents a coherent philosophy of the field, reflecting the "new archaeology" of the 1960s and 70s while reviewing the methodological revisions of the 1980s, and relates the archaeological data from hundreds of sites to the great questions of prehistorical change. Thoroughly revised and brought up to date in light of recent scholarship, the second edition is more compact and even easier to use. It features expanded coverage of Egypt and Mexico, 25 new illustrations, and a wealth of anecdotal material. Clear and lively, Patterns in Prehistory is that rare book that will fascinate general readers and students alike." -- Publisher.
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 540
Book Description
This comprehensive review of world prehistory is organized around the five topics central to archaeology: the origins of culture, the development of physically "modern" people, the Pleistocene cultures, the establishment of agricultural economies, and the rise of complex states and empires. It presents a coherent philosophy of the field, reflecting the "new archaeology" of the 1960s and 70s while reviewing the methodological revisions of the 1980s, and relates the archaeological data from hundreds of sites to the great questions of prehistorical change. Thoroughly revised and brought up to date in light of recent scholarship, the second edition is more compact and even easier to use. It features expanded coverage of Egypt and Mexico, 25 new illustrations, and a wealth of anecdotal material. Clear and lively, Patterns in Prehistory is that rare book that will fascinate general readers and students alike." -- Publisher.
Why the West Rules - For Now
Author: Ian Morris
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
ISBN: 1551995816
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 767
Book Description
Why does the West rule? In this magnum opus, eminent Stanford polymath Ian Morris answers this provocative question, drawing on 50,000 years of history, archeology, and the methods of social science, to make sense of when, how, and why the paths of development differed in the East and West — and what this portends for the 21st century. There are two broad schools of thought on why the West rules. Proponents of "Long-Term Lock-In" theories such as Jared Diamond suggest that from time immemorial, some critical factor — geography, climate, or culture perhaps — made East and West unalterably different, and determined that the industrial revolution would happen in the West and push it further ahead of the East. But the East led the West between 500 and 1600, so this development can't have been inevitable; and so proponents of "Short-Term Accident" theories argue that Western rule was a temporary aberration that is now coming to an end, with Japan, China, and India resuming their rightful places on the world stage. However, as the West led for 9,000 of the previous 10,000 years, it wasn't just a temporary aberration. So, if we want to know why the West rules, we need a whole new theory. Ian Morris, boldly entering the turf of Jared Diamond and Niall Ferguson, provides the broader approach that is necessary, combining the textual historian's focus on context, the anthropological archaeologist's awareness of the deep past, and the social scientist's comparative methods to make sense of the past, present, and future — in a way no one has ever done before.
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
ISBN: 1551995816
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 767
Book Description
Why does the West rule? In this magnum opus, eminent Stanford polymath Ian Morris answers this provocative question, drawing on 50,000 years of history, archeology, and the methods of social science, to make sense of when, how, and why the paths of development differed in the East and West — and what this portends for the 21st century. There are two broad schools of thought on why the West rules. Proponents of "Long-Term Lock-In" theories such as Jared Diamond suggest that from time immemorial, some critical factor — geography, climate, or culture perhaps — made East and West unalterably different, and determined that the industrial revolution would happen in the West and push it further ahead of the East. But the East led the West between 500 and 1600, so this development can't have been inevitable; and so proponents of "Short-Term Accident" theories argue that Western rule was a temporary aberration that is now coming to an end, with Japan, China, and India resuming their rightful places on the world stage. However, as the West led for 9,000 of the previous 10,000 years, it wasn't just a temporary aberration. So, if we want to know why the West rules, we need a whole new theory. Ian Morris, boldly entering the turf of Jared Diamond and Niall Ferguson, provides the broader approach that is necessary, combining the textual historian's focus on context, the anthropological archaeologist's awareness of the deep past, and the social scientist's comparative methods to make sense of the past, present, and future — in a way no one has ever done before.
European Prehistory
Author: Sarunas Milisauskas
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461507510
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 454
Book Description
Sarunas Milisauskas· 1.1 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this book is four-fold: to introduce English-speaking students and scholars to some of the outstanding archaeological research that has been done in Europe in recent years; to integrate this research into an anthropological frame of reference; to address episodes of culture change such as the transition to farming; the origin of complex societies, and the origin of urbanism, and to provide an overview of European prehistory from the earliest appearance of humans to the rise of the Roman empire. In 1978, the Academic Press published my book European Prehistory which, typically for that period, emphasized cultural evolution, culture process, technology, environment, and economy. To produce a new version and an up- to-date prehistory of Europe, I have invited contributions from specialists in the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages. Thus while this version of European Prehistory is a new book, however, it still incorporates some data from the 1978 version, particularly in The Present Environment and Neolithic chapters. Like its predecessor, this edition is structured around selected general topics, such as technology, trade, settlement, warfare, and ritual.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461507510
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 454
Book Description
Sarunas Milisauskas· 1.1 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this book is four-fold: to introduce English-speaking students and scholars to some of the outstanding archaeological research that has been done in Europe in recent years; to integrate this research into an anthropological frame of reference; to address episodes of culture change such as the transition to farming; the origin of complex societies, and the origin of urbanism, and to provide an overview of European prehistory from the earliest appearance of humans to the rise of the Roman empire. In 1978, the Academic Press published my book European Prehistory which, typically for that period, emphasized cultural evolution, culture process, technology, environment, and economy. To produce a new version and an up- to-date prehistory of Europe, I have invited contributions from specialists in the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages. Thus while this version of European Prehistory is a new book, however, it still incorporates some data from the 1978 version, particularly in The Present Environment and Neolithic chapters. Like its predecessor, this edition is structured around selected general topics, such as technology, trade, settlement, warfare, and ritual.
Patterns in Prehistory
Author: Robert J. Wenke
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 652
Book Description
This is a comprehensive survey of world prehistory designed for introductory world prehistory courses in anthropology departments. The text brings together theories & archaeological examples to pose questions about who we are & the means by which humanity evolved. It reveals how archaeologists decipher the past.
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 652
Book Description
This is a comprehensive survey of world prehistory designed for introductory world prehistory courses in anthropology departments. The text brings together theories & archaeological examples to pose questions about who we are & the means by which humanity evolved. It reveals how archaeologists decipher the past.
Prehistory
Author: Chris Gosden
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198803516
Category : HISTORY
Languages : en
Pages : 153
Book Description
Recent archaeological discoveries from China and central Asia have changed our understanding of how human civilization developed in the period of some 4 million years before the start of written history. In this new edition of his Very Short Introduction, Chris Gosden explores the current theories on the ebb and flow of human cultural variety.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198803516
Category : HISTORY
Languages : en
Pages : 153
Book Description
Recent archaeological discoveries from China and central Asia have changed our understanding of how human civilization developed in the period of some 4 million years before the start of written history. In this new edition of his Very Short Introduction, Chris Gosden explores the current theories on the ebb and flow of human cultural variety.
The Power of Ritual in Prehistory
Author: Brian Hayden
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108426395
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 411
Book Description
Secret societies in tribal societies turn out to be key to understanding the origins of social inequalities and state religions.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108426395
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 411
Book Description
Secret societies in tribal societies turn out to be key to understanding the origins of social inequalities and state religions.
Olmec to Aztec
Author: Barbara L. Stark
Publisher: University of Arizona Press
ISBN: 0816551375
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 394
Book Description
Archaeological settlement patterns—the ways in which ancient people distributed themselves across a natural and cultural landscape—provide the central theme for this long-overdue update to our understanding of the Mexican Gulf lowlands Olmec to Aztec offers the only recent treatment of the region that considers its entire prehistory from the second millennium B.C. to A.D. 1519. The editors have assembled a distinguished group of international scholars, several of whom here provide the first widely available English-language account of ongoing research. Several studies present up-to-date syntheses of the archaeological record in their respective areas. Other chapters provide exciting new data and innovative insights into future directions in Gulf lowland archaeology. Olmec to Aztec is a crucial resource for archaeologists working in Mexico and other areas of Latin America. Its contributions help dispel long-standing misunderstandings about the prehistory of this region and also correct the sometimes overzealous manner in which cultural change within the Gulf lowlands has been attributed to external forces. This important book clearly demonstrates that the Gulf lowlands played a critical role in ancient Mesoamerica throughout the entirety of pre-Columbian history.
Publisher: University of Arizona Press
ISBN: 0816551375
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 394
Book Description
Archaeological settlement patterns—the ways in which ancient people distributed themselves across a natural and cultural landscape—provide the central theme for this long-overdue update to our understanding of the Mexican Gulf lowlands Olmec to Aztec offers the only recent treatment of the region that considers its entire prehistory from the second millennium B.C. to A.D. 1519. The editors have assembled a distinguished group of international scholars, several of whom here provide the first widely available English-language account of ongoing research. Several studies present up-to-date syntheses of the archaeological record in their respective areas. Other chapters provide exciting new data and innovative insights into future directions in Gulf lowland archaeology. Olmec to Aztec is a crucial resource for archaeologists working in Mexico and other areas of Latin America. Its contributions help dispel long-standing misunderstandings about the prehistory of this region and also correct the sometimes overzealous manner in which cultural change within the Gulf lowlands has been attributed to external forces. This important book clearly demonstrates that the Gulf lowlands played a critical role in ancient Mesoamerica throughout the entirety of pre-Columbian history.
The Archaeology of Mobility
Author: Hans Barnard
Publisher: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press
ISBN: 1938770382
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 617
Book Description
There have been edited books on the archaeology of nomadism in various regions, and there have been individual archaeological and anthropological monographs, but nothing with the kind of coverage provided in this volume. Its strength and importance lies in the fact that it brings together a worldwide collection of studies of the archaeology of mobility. This book provides a ready-made reference to this worldwide phenomenon and is unique in that it tries to redefine pastoralism within a larger context by the term mobility. It presents many new ideas and thoughtful approaches, especially in the Central Asian region.
Publisher: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press
ISBN: 1938770382
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 617
Book Description
There have been edited books on the archaeology of nomadism in various regions, and there have been individual archaeological and anthropological monographs, but nothing with the kind of coverage provided in this volume. Its strength and importance lies in the fact that it brings together a worldwide collection of studies of the archaeology of mobility. This book provides a ready-made reference to this worldwide phenomenon and is unique in that it tries to redefine pastoralism within a larger context by the term mobility. It presents many new ideas and thoughtful approaches, especially in the Central Asian region.
World of Patterns
Author: Rens Bod
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 1421443457
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 396
Book Description
A comprehensive account of the methods of knowledge production throughout human history and across the globe. The idea that the world can be understood through patterns and the principles that govern them is one of the most important human insights—it may also be our greatest survival strategy. Our search for patterns and principles began 40,000 years ago, when striped patterns were engraved on mammoths' bones to keep track of the moon's phases. What routes did human knowledge take to grow from these humble beginnings through many detours and dead ends into modern understandings of nature and culture? In this work of unprecedented scope, Rens Bod removes the Western natural sciences from their often-central role to bring us the first global history of human knowledge. Having sketched the history of the humanities in his ground-breaking A New History of the Humanities, Bod now adopts a broader perspective, stepping beyond classical antiquity back to the Stone Age to answer the question: Where did our knowledge of the world today begin and how did it develop? Drawing on developments from all five continents of the inhabited world, World of Patterns offers startling connections. Focusing on a dozen fields—ranging from astronomy, philology, medicine, law, and mathematics to history, botany, and musicology—Bod examines to what degree their progressions can be considered interwoven and to what degree we can speak of global trends. In this pioneering work, Bod aims to fulfill what he sees as the historian's responsibility: to grant access to history's goldmine of ideas. Bod discusses how inoculation was invented in China rather than Europe; how many of the fundamental aspects of modern mathematics and astronomy were first discovered by the Indian Kerala school; and how the study of law provided fundamental models for astronomy and linguistics from Roman to Ottoman times. The book flies across continents and eras. The result is an enlightening symphony, a stirring chorus of human inquisitiveness extending through the ages.
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 1421443457
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 396
Book Description
A comprehensive account of the methods of knowledge production throughout human history and across the globe. The idea that the world can be understood through patterns and the principles that govern them is one of the most important human insights—it may also be our greatest survival strategy. Our search for patterns and principles began 40,000 years ago, when striped patterns were engraved on mammoths' bones to keep track of the moon's phases. What routes did human knowledge take to grow from these humble beginnings through many detours and dead ends into modern understandings of nature and culture? In this work of unprecedented scope, Rens Bod removes the Western natural sciences from their often-central role to bring us the first global history of human knowledge. Having sketched the history of the humanities in his ground-breaking A New History of the Humanities, Bod now adopts a broader perspective, stepping beyond classical antiquity back to the Stone Age to answer the question: Where did our knowledge of the world today begin and how did it develop? Drawing on developments from all five continents of the inhabited world, World of Patterns offers startling connections. Focusing on a dozen fields—ranging from astronomy, philology, medicine, law, and mathematics to history, botany, and musicology—Bod examines to what degree their progressions can be considered interwoven and to what degree we can speak of global trends. In this pioneering work, Bod aims to fulfill what he sees as the historian's responsibility: to grant access to history's goldmine of ideas. Bod discusses how inoculation was invented in China rather than Europe; how many of the fundamental aspects of modern mathematics and astronomy were first discovered by the Indian Kerala school; and how the study of law provided fundamental models for astronomy and linguistics from Roman to Ottoman times. The book flies across continents and eras. The result is an enlightening symphony, a stirring chorus of human inquisitiveness extending through the ages.