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This book shows how anthropology can provide an innovative
perspective on the human movement into space. It examines
adaptation to space on timescales of generations, rather than
merely months or years, and uses evolutionary adaptation as a
guiding theme. Employing the lessons of evolutionary adaptation,
Principles of Extraterrestrial Anthropology recommends
evolutionarily-sound strategies of space settlement, covering
genetics at the organismal and population levels. The author
organizes the concept of cultural adaptation to environments beyond
Earth according to observed patterns in human adaptation on Earth.
He uses original artwork and tables to help convey complex
information in a form accessible to undergraduate and graduate
students. Though primarily written to engage students interested in
space settlement and exploration, who will eventually build a full
anthropology of space settlement, Principles of Extraterrestrial
Anthropology is engaging to anthropologists across sub-disciplines,
as well as scholars interested in the human dimensions of space
exploration and settlement. Just as the term exobiology was
invented only a few decades ago to shape the field of space life
studies, exoanthropology is outlined to assist in the perpetuation
of Earth life through human space settlement.
Emigrating Beyond Earth puts space colonization into the context of
human evolution. Rather than focusing on the technologies and
strategies needed to colonize space, the authors examine the human
and societal reasons for space colonization. They make space
colonization seems like a natural step by demonstrating that if
will continue the human species' 4 million-year-old legacy of
adaptation to difficult new environments. The authors present many
examples from the history of human expansion into new environments,
including two amazing tales of human colonization - the prehistoric
settlement of the upper Arctic around 5,000 years ago and the
colonization of the Pacific islands around 3,000 years ago - which
show that space exploration is no more about rockets and robots
that Arctic exploration was about boating!
Many undergraduates struggle to fully understand the size of the
earth and the diverse environments to which human beings have
successfully adapted. An Atlas of Human Prehistory gives students
an appreciation for the sheer size of the earth and the diverse
geographies through which humanity and our ancestors have migrated
and settled over millions of years. The book's unique formatting
allows students to read a stand-alone topical essay on the
left-hand page, which refers to the accompanying detailed maps and
diagrams on the right-hand page. The maps and diagrams provide
additional details and enable students to "see" human adaptation
across time and space. This fresh, engaging approach covers hominin
evolution, important fossil sites, early dispersal around the
world, biocultural and subsistence adaptations, and the
establishment of ancient civilizations. An outstanding blend of
words and visuals, An Atlas of Human Prehistory gives readers
excellent graphical representations of the chief lessons of our
shared past and a greater understanding of the pace of movement
across time. It is an excellent supplement for courses in
archaeology, ancient history, human geography, and physical
anthropology.
Though the United States is the world leader in science and
technology, many of its citizens display a shocking ignorance
regarding basic scientific facts. Recent surveys have revealed that
only about half of Americans realise that humans have never lived
side by side with dinosaurs, and about the same number reject the
idea that humans developed from earlier species of animals. This
lack of knowledge in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence
for evolution springs from a number of negative influences in
contemporary society: poor secondary education in some regions of
the country, misinformation in the mass media, and deliberate
obfuscation by supporters of Creationism and Intelligent Design. In
this concise, accessible, myth-buster's handbook, educators Cameron
M. Smith and Charles Sullivan clearly dispel the ten most common
myths about evolution, which continue to mislead average Americans.
Using a refreshing, jargon-free style, they set the record straight
on claims that evolution is just a theory, that Darwinian
explanations of life undercut morality, that Intelligent Design is
a legitimate alternative to conventional science, that humans come
from chimpanzees, and six other popular but erroneous notions.
Smith and Sullivan's reader-friendly, solidly researched text will
serve as an important tool, both for teachers and laypersons
seeking accurate information about evolution.
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