The Human Past offers a truly global and comprehensive coverage of prehistory, spanning the past three million years, from human origins in Africa and the spread of modern humans around the world to the great civilizations of Egypt and Africa, the Mediterranean, Europe, South and East Asia, and the Americas.

No other world prehistory textbook can claim such a range of expertise all 24 authors, from North America, Europe and Australasia, are acknowledged experts in their fields. The book has been revised throughout to take into account new discoveries, theories and interpretations, including what the analysis of ancient DNA tells us about our evolution; the Denisovans; the mechanisms of the adoption and spread of farming; the latest theories about the domestication of key plants and animals; and new thinking on the earliest Paleoindian hunting strategies.

With a clear layout, unmatched graphic presentation, including world and regional maps and timelines, greatly enhanced use of colour illustrations, and hundreds of photographs, diagrams, plans and reconstruction images, this remains essential reading for any student of prehistory.