Books like Prehistory by Chris Gosden

Since the 1960s, spectacular advances have been made in the study of prehistory. It is now possible to reconstruct the behavior and social life of pre-human ancestors as much as two million years ago. These findings have forced us to revise dramatically our view of human evolution, the study of which is only complete through an integrated perspective that emphasizes biological and social factors. Archaeology, primate studies, genetics, palaeontology, hunter-gatherer studies, and anthropology have all contributed to significant breakthroughs in our understanding of human origins, necessitating an approach to prehistory that is not tied to a particularly disciplinary approach. Stressing the importance of culture as a formative agent in the evolutionary emergence of modern humans, Society in Prehistory provides an impressive, interdisciplinary, and deeply informed survey of prehistory. Individual chapters focus on culture and evolution; biology and culture; primate societies; the first hominids; tools and culture; the economics of foraging; modern humans and human behavior; sex and the division of labor; and sexuality and social life. The book reveals that, while social behavior is biologically grounded, it is not biologically determined.

DK Online provides complete and visually arresting reference at a new level.

Colin Renfrew’s concise survey of human prehistory traces the emergence of human societies from early hominids to the dawn of writing, highlighting archaeological, geological, and genetic breakthroughs that illuminate our ancient past.

The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations explores the world's earliest cultures, from the farming settlements of Mesopotamia to the Americas and Polynesia, via the birth of Greek city states and the foundation of Rome. It examines the development of civilizations in the Near East -- Babylonian, Assyrian, Persian -- as well as those in Europe -- the Minoans, Etruscans and Celts. Across the continents of Africa, Asia and America, it covers such subjects as Egypt from its pre-dynastic roots to the age of the Pharaohs, China during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and the great cities of the Incas and Aztecs. Vivid descriptions of civilizations are complemented by discussion of such key topics as colonization, agriculture and technology, and the rise of empires and city states. Richly illustrated with timelines, photographs, artwork re-creations and full-colour maps, this is an illuminating and multi-faceted one-volume introduction to early peoples and the worlds they created. - Back cover.