From the Beginnings to 1000, Chapters 1-17 This groundbreaking world history text has, in its first edition, become a market leader by offering a fresh, global perspective on the past. The text is unique in approach; covering the world as a whole, examining the formations and development of the world?s major societies (?traditions?), and also systematically exploring cross-cultural interactions and exchanges that have been some of the most effective agents of change in all of world history (?encounters?). In addition, the authors have taken great care in constructing a coherent vision of the past that is not weighed down by a mass of detail, thus enabling instructors to incorporate additional readings of their choosing. Finally the text emphasizes that historical processes work themselves out through the lives and experiences of individual human beings, opening each chapter with an account of individual experiences that illuminate themes in that chapter. The second edition includes scholarship updates throughout and revisions to organization and content.

List of Maps

Preface

A Brief Note on Usage

Acknowledgements

Part I The Early Complex Societies, 3500 to 500 B.C.E.

Chapter 1: BEFORE HISTORY

The Evolution of Homo Sapiens

Paleolithic Society

The Neolithic Era and the Transition to Agriculture

Chapter 2: EARLY SOCIETIES IN SOUTHWEST ASIA AND THE INDO-EUROPEAN MIGRATIONS

The Quest for Order

The Formation of a Complex Society and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions

The Broader Influence of Mesopotamian Society

The Indo-European Migrations

Chapter 3: EARLY AFRICAN SOCIETIES AND THE BANTU MIGRATIONS

Early Agricultural Society in Africa

The Formation of Complex Societies and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions

Bantu Migrations and Early Agricultural Societies of Sub-Saharan Africa

Chapter 4: EARLY SOCIETIES IN SOUTH ASIA

Harrapan Society

The Indo-European Migrations and Early Aryan India

Religion in the Vedic Age

Chapter 5: EARLY SOCIETY IN EAST ASIA

Political Organization in Early China

Society and Family in Ancient China

(and more...)