After the Ice - Steven Mithen

"After the Ice" by Stephen Mithen is subtitled "A Global Human History: 20,000 - 5000 BC" and that explains the subject of the book with admirably succinct clarity. Mithen sets out his intentions with the book in a short preface, mainly that he intended "a good read" for those interested in our past, while at the same time maintaining the highest levels of academic scholarship. Happily, this book is very much a good read and one senses that the archaeological evidence cited and analysed is indeed of the highest quality. After a couple of brief introductory chapters that give us a sense of the world at the end of the ...  Read the complete review

The sub title of this book is an ideal summation of the books subject and at the same time an audacious claim, "A Global Human History 20000-5000BC." That is a long period of time to condense into one volume, even one like this that runs to over 600 pages. The advantage of looking at this period though is that unlike mans more recent development this period is a simpler time. There are no borders or countries, no politics, little evidence of religion beyond tribal custom and superstition, no money and no large-scale war. What the book then is left with is the growth of hunter-gatherer communities across the world and when viewed in these more specific terms is ...  Read the complete review