Lost Worlds
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago, in a few favored areas of the world, humankind mastered the formulas that released it from the Stone Age. For the first time in history, people became civilized.
This globe- and time-trotting book vividly describes how a number of major civilizations - the Mayans, the Egyptians, the Khmers, the Etruscans, and more - emerged, thrived, faded, but left a mark on our collective imagination and culture.
Memories of some of these civilizations linger in the form of legends. Some left monuments whose meaning seemed inscrutable to later ages. Still others vanished under desert sands, floods, or tropical jungles. This sharply observed and meticulously researched book unearths the stories and the cultures that make us who we are today.
Customer Reviews
Lost Worlds
Even though this book is 50 yrs old, I found it absolutely fascinating. Cottrell's writing style is easy to read. I found myself in each chapter looking things up in Wikipedia/Google as I read so that I had a richer and more visual experience with what was being conveyed. It also helps to see what new discoveries have taken place since the book was written. The book does a nice job of explaining how these ancient cultures formed either alone or with influence of each other. One is able to better understand the timeline around the world and what cultures flourished when. This book is definitely worthwhile if you are interested in ancient civilizations. I read the iBook and then ordered a paperback copy to keep on my shelf - I will read this again!