How did humankind deal with the extreme challenges of the last Ice Age? How have the relatively benign post-Ice Age conditions affected the evolution and spread of humanity across the globe? By setting our genetic history in the context of climate change during prehistory, the origin of many features of our modern world are identified and presented in this illuminating book. It reviews the aspects of our physiology and intellectual development that have been influenced by climatic factors, and how features of our lives - diet, language and the domestication of animals - are also the product of the climate in which we evolved. In short: climate change in prehistory has in many ways made us what we are today. Climate Change in Prehistory weaves together studies of the climate with anthropological, archaeological and historical studies, and will fascinate all those interested in the effects of climate on human development and history.
"Quoting from and bringing together evidence from a very wide range and long list of references, Bill Burroughs presents a compelling argument for the profound effect of the stabilisation of climate into and through the Holocene on humanity using, in particular, ice-core proxy data as a measure of climate. Intended for a general readership of interested readers, I recommend this well-written, readable overview to all." Jim Galvin, Royal Meteorological Society
"...covers an amazing range of relevant topics and does not shirk from controversy...the story the author weaves is up to date and utterly fascinating, and it captures the excitement and promise in combining studies of climatic and human history." The Quarterly Review of Biology, David Rhode, Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada
"The central virtue of this book is that it asks big, provocative questions about the possible effects of climate on our species. These attempts at cross - disciplinary theorizing expand our horizons and lift us beyond the limits of our specific disciplines." William Ruddiman, American Meteorological Society
Formerly a researcher of atmospheric physics at the UK National Physical Laboratory and a scientific advisor to both UK and US Governments, he is now a professional science writer. This is his tenth book on weather and climate.
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