Title
War Before Civilization: The Myth Of The Peaceful Savage,Used
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The Myth Of The Peaceloving 'Noble Savage' Is Persistent And Pernicious. Indeed, For The Last Fifty Years, Most Popular And Scholarly Works Have Agreed That Prehistoric Warfare Was Rare, Harmless, Unimportant, And, Like Smallpox, A Disease Of Civilized Societies Alone. Prehistoric Warfare, According To This View, Was Little More Than A Ritualized Game, Where Casualties Were Limited And The Effects Of Aggression Relatively Mild. Lawrence Keeley'S Groundbreaking War Before Civilization Offers A Devastating Rebuttal To Such Comfortable Myths And Debunks The Notion That Warfare Was Introduced To Primitive Societies Through Contact With Civilization (An Idea He Denounces As 'The Pacification Of The Past').Building On Much Fascinating Archeological And Historical Research And Offering An Astute Comparison Of Warfare In Civilized And Prehistoric Societies, From Modern European States To The Plains Indians Of North America, War Before Civilization Convincingly Demonstrates That Prehistoric Warfare Was In Fact More Deadly, More Frequent, And More Ruthless Than Modern War. To Support This Point, Keeley Provides A Wideranging Look At Warfare And Brutality In The Prehistoric World. He Reveals, For Instance, That Prehistorical Tactics Favoring Raids And Ambushes, As Opposed To Formal Battles, Often Yielded A High Deathrate; That Adult Males Falling Into The Hands Of Their Enemies Were Almost Universally Killed; And That Surprise Raids Seldom Spared Even Women And Children. Keeley Cites Evidence Of Ancient Massacres In Many Areas Of The World, Including The Discovery In South Dakota Of A Prehistoric Mass Grave Containing The Remains Of Over 500 Scalped And Mutilated Men, Women, And Children (A Slaughter That Took Place A Century And A Half Before The Arrival Of Columbus). In Addition, Keeley Surveys The Prevalence Of Looting, Destruction, And Trophytaking In All Kinds Of Warfare And Again Finds Little Moral Distinction Between Ancient Warriors And Civilized Armies. Finally, And Perhaps Most Controversially, He Examines The Evidence Of Cannibalism Among Some Preliterate Peoples.Keeley Is A Seasoned Writer And His Book Is Packed With Vivid, Eyeopening Details (For Instance, That The Homicide Rate Of Prehistoric Illinois Villagers May Have Exceeded That Of The Modern United States By Some 70 Times). But He Also Goes Beyond Grisly Facts To Address The Larger Moral And Philosophical Issues Raised By His Work. What Are The Causes Of War? Are Human Beings Inherently Violent? How Can We Ensure Peace In Our Own Time? Challenging Some Of Our Most Dearly Held Beliefs, Keeley'S Conclusions Are Bound To Stir Controversy.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: How many pages are in 'War Before Civilization'? A: This book contains two hundred seventy-two pages. It provides an in-depth exploration of prehistoric warfare and its implications.
- Q: What are the dimensions of 'War Before Civilization'? A: The book measures eight point zero three inches in length, five point three five inches in width, and zero point five three inches in height.
- Q: What binding does 'War Before Civilization' have? A: This book is available in paperback binding. This makes it lightweight and easy to handle.
- Q: Who is the author of 'War Before Civilization'? A: The author is Lawrence H. Keeley. He is known for his extensive research on prehistoric warfare.
- Q: What genre does 'War Before Civilization' belong to? A: This book falls under the category of history. It challenges popular beliefs about prehistoric societies and warfare.
- Q: How do I read 'War Before Civilization' effectively? A: To grasp the concepts, read it in a quiet environment to focus on the detailed arguments presented by the author.
- Q: Is 'War Before Civilization' suitable for teenagers? A: Yes, this book is suitable for teenagers, particularly those interested in history and anthropology.
- Q: What themes are explored in 'War Before Civilization'? A: The book explores themes of violence, warfare, and societal structures in prehistoric times compared to modern societies.
- Q: How can I apply the insights from 'War Before Civilization'? A: You can discuss its insights in academic settings or use them to challenge commonly held beliefs about human nature and violence.
- Q: How should I store 'War Before Civilization' to keep it in good condition? A: Store the book upright in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight to prevent damage to the cover and pages.
- Q: Is 'War Before Civilization' safe for all audiences? A: No, it contains graphic descriptions of violence and warfare. Reader discretion is advised.
- Q: What is the recommended care for 'War Before Civilization'? A: To care for the book, avoid exposing it to moisture and clean it gently with a dry cloth if it gets dirty.
- Q: Can I return 'War Before Civilization' if I'm not satisfied? A: Yes, you can return the book within the specified return period if you are not satisfied with your purchase.
- Q: What if 'War Before Civilization' arrives damaged? A: If the book arrives damaged, contact customer support for a replacement or refund according to their policy.
- Q: How does 'War Before Civilization' compare to other history books? A: This book offers a unique perspective by focusing on prehistoric warfare, contrasting with many history books that emphasize civilized societies.