Assuming no previous knowledge of archaeology, this book is a short survey of human prehistory, from the origins of human kind to the rise of the first civilizations. It first defines its subject, and then introduces readers to the major developments in prehistory, tracking the movement of Homo erectus from Africa, the spread of Homo sapiens, and civilization. Brian Fagan presents all sides of major controversies in telling the story of human diversity, focusing not just on the classic areas of Europe and the Near East, but on lesser known regions of Australia and the Pacific.