From it's beginnings as an accumulation of molten space debris over 4.6 billion years ago, the Earth has undergone astounding transformations, both geological and biological, to arrive at its familiar look today. The Discovery Channel's Atlas of the Prehistoric World is a dynamic portrait of the Earth and the interplay among the various forces that shaped both the planet and the life upon it.

Atlas of the Prehistoric World is divided into three major sections, each of which offers a distinctive look at our planet's pre-history.

In "The Changing Globe" computer -generated global maps track the Earth's shift in topography during eighteen different geological periods.... From the rise of mountain ranges to the creation of new oceans, the world takes on its different faces through the course of eons.

"Life on Earth" chronicles the evolution of plant and animal life, from the first single-celled microbes to land-dwelling mammals. Each of the Earth's major geological eras is profiled in its own chapter, which depicts the life forms that developed as continents drifted, volcanoes erupted, and meteorites crashed to the surface. Specially commissioned panoramic illustrations take "snapshots" of life at a particular time and place....These...reflect the latest scientific thinking about how creatures from each period would have appeared, bringing to life animals and plantlife we can otherwise see only as fossils.

"Earth Fact File," an indispensable gazetteer, explains important Earth science concepts and provides a useful tool for understanding prehistory. Accompanied by over 250 full-color photographs and illustrations and 68 maps, the Discovery Channel's Atlas of the Prehistoric World is a unique must-have resource for any family member.

BACK COVER COPY:
When is there magic in a rock? When it carries within it the Earth's mysterious story. The Discovery Channel's Atlas of the Prehistoric World uncovers the secrets of our planet's rocks and fossils to reveal an ever-changing world more intriguing than any science fiction.

Dazzling computer-generated maps, dramatically unveil the Earth's major transformations from the origins of life 620 million years ago up to the last ice age and the dawn of human kind. In each chapter of prehistory, beautifully rendered panoramas depict a continually evolving world in which giant mountain chains are thrust up from the surface, seas shift, and dinosaurs, reptiles, and mammals flourish or perish. Like a time machine, Atlas of the Prehistoric World transports you into the past and examines the forces that will create the future.

3201 Includes bibliographical references (p. 216-217) and index.

Douglas Palmer is a science writer, academic, and author of many books on paleontology, including Life Before Man and Graptolites: Writing in the Rock. In addition to writing numerous articles for leading journals such as Science and New Scientist, he teaches Natural and Earth Sciences at Cambridge University, England.