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Human Prehistory and the First Civilizations
- Narrated by: Brian M. Fagan
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
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Human Prehistory and the First Civilizations
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Summary
Where do we come from? How did our ancestors settle this planet? How did the great historic civilizations of the world develop? How does a past so shadowy that it has to be painstakingly reconstructed from fragmentary, largely unwritten records nonetheless make us who and what we are?
These 36 lectures bring you the answers that the latest scientific and archaeological research and theorizing suggest about human origins, how populations developed, and the ways in which civilizations spread throughout the globe. It's a narrative of the story of human origins and the many ties that still bind us deeply to the world before writing. And it's a world tour of prehistory with profound links to who we are and how we live today.
Woven through this narrative is a set of pervasive themes: emerging human biological and cultural diversity (as well as our remarkable similarities across surprising expanses of time and space); the impact of human adaptations to climatic and environmental change; and the importance of seeing prehistory not merely as a chronicle of archaeological sites and artifacts, but of people behaving with the extraordinary intellectual, spiritual, and emotional dynamism that distinguish the human. Among the corners of our mysterious past you'll explore: human prehistory from Australopithecus africanus through Homo habilis and Homo erectus; the beginnings of agriculture and animal domestication; theories behind the appearance of urban civilization and overall attributes of preindustrial civilizations; the maritime trading revolutions in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia; and much more.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
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What listeners say about Human Prehistory and the First Civilizations
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jo Richards
- 30-07-21
Absolutely loved this!
It’s taken me a while to get through as I tended to save it for things like long journeys or when I could listen in good chunks.
As a complete beginner at anthropology I found it fascinating and with the narration you could imagine all the descriptions in different parts of the world before they modern civilisations took over.
I loved the emphasis on environment and resources and all the stories of human progress that grew from those main factors. As someone with environmental science background this was the connection I was looking for. It’s the foundations of modern humans and civilisation.
I’ve just finished it today and enjoyed it so much I’m starting it again so that more of it might sink in.
There is so much interesting detail - enough to make notes on if you’re serious - or just to enjoy more casually if not.
I would thoroughly recommend it and I will certainly be seeking out similar titles.
Thank you.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Barleyman
- 29-07-20
Had to disagree with a lot being said
By lecture 7 I was disagreeing with a lot Brian Fagan was saying. Perhaps this is an old recording but his take on early humans contradicts a lot I have read and watched over the last few years. By the time he was stating that Neanderthal’s probably had very poor communication skills and that it was a fact the Homo sapiens sapiens and Neanderthal’s couldn’t breed together he had lost me. If this is an old recording please replace it with something that includes more recent research!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 11-02-18
Interesting, but now dated
Back when this was first released it would have been great, dated scholarship now. I'm waiting for a new edition.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Paul
- 03-06-20
Out of date
I’m no real expert on this subject but even to my limited knowledge some of this is out of date which leads me to suspect that much of the assertions will I fact be out of date and recognisable to someone even more knowledgeable. Please do a new version Great Courses
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Andyjn
- 20-04-17
Very informative
The series from the great courses is a good way to learn about mans early history. The lecturer presents a lot of knowledge in an easy to understand way. His interest in the subject really shows.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- niall fallon
- 05-09-19
excellent listening. huge subject
absolutely huge. I my need to listen from beginning again.
goes through each age and by continent and empire.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Nicole
- 03-07-23
Very informative.
I really enjoyed listening to this while I worked. A brilliant trip through time. Well told and well put across. Tips with passion and obvious interest.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Alice DG
- 01-03-22
beautiful overview
very good world wide overview of the prehistory of humans, with a great attention to the connections between the different civilization and the historical context. there are a few things that I think might be outdated in light of the most recent discoveries (such as homo sapiens not being able to breed with Neanderthal), but overall it gives a comprehensive overview from the first hominids, to the conquistadors. highly recommended.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Sam Lucas
- 10-03-21
entertaining, informative but dated
flows well, very entertaining and follows a logical path. however It was recorded in 2003 and is now dated in some of its information
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2 people found this helpful
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- Jan Omar
- 07-02-22
Fascinating!
I thoroughly enjoyed this introduction to World prehistory. Enough to peak my interest to study any one in detail.?
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