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Product Identifiers

PublisherOxford University Press, Incorporated

ISBN-100195091124

ISBN-139780195091120

eBay Product ID (ePID)47652

Product Key Features

Book TitleWar before Civilization

Number of Pages272 Pages

LanguageEnglish

TopicArchaeology, Civilization, Military / Weapons, Military / General, Popular Culture

Publication Year1996

IllustratorYes

GenreSocial Science, History

AuthorLawrence H. Keeley

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height1 in

Item Weight20.2 Oz

Item Length9.5 in

Item Width6.5 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

LCCN94-008998

Reviews"The evidence that Mr. Keeley marshals is vivid, varied, and often complex."--The New York Times Book Review"[Keeley] skillfully shows that pre-state peoples fought as cleverly and cruelly as we moderns, and for the same ostensibly 'rational'reasons. The 'primitives' were not innocent, nor are we moderns uniquely depraved."--Lingua Franca, "[Keeley] skillfully shows that pre-state peoples fought as cleverly andcruelly as we moderns, and for the same ostensibly 'rational'reasons. The'primitives' were not innocent, nor are we moderns uniquely depraved."--LinguaFranca, "[Keeley] skillfully shows that pre-state peoples fought as cleverly and cruelly as we moderns, and for the same ostensibly 'rational'reasons. The 'primitives' were not innocent, nor are we moderns uniquely depraved."--Lingua Franca, "The evidence that Mr. Keeley marshals is vivid, varied, and oftencomplex."--The New York Times Book Review, "The evidence that Mr. Keeley marshals is vivid, varied, and often complex."--The New York Times Book Review

Dewey Edition21

Dewey Decimal303.6/6/0901

SynopsisPrimitive war was a savage affair, not the rare, ritualized, harmless and essentially unimportant conflict that most anthropologists have portrayed for the last 50 years. Synthesizing the latest archaeological evidence, Keeley's bold reassessment covers weapons, tactics, and forms of combat, showing that early warfare was in fact more brutal and deadly than modern technological warfare., The myth of the peace-loving "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 wide-ranging 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 death-rate; 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 trophy-taking 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, eye-opening 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., The myth of the peace-loving "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. Robert 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 archaeological and historical research and offering an astute comparison of warfare in civilized and prehistoric societies, from the Vikings of Scandinavia 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 wide ranging look at warfare and brutality in the prehistoric world. He reveals, for instance, that prehistorical tactics favouring raids and ambushes, as opposed to formal battles, often yielded a high death-rate; 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 trophy-taking 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, eye-opening 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., The myth of the peace-loving "noble savage" is persistent and pernicious.Indeed, for the last fifty years, most popular and scholarly works have agreedthat prehistoric warfare was rare, harmless, unimportant, and, like smallpox, adisease of civilized societies alone. Prehistoric warfare, according to thisview, was little more than a ritualized game, where casualties were limited andthe effects of aggression relatively mild. Lawrence Keeley's groundbreaking WarBefore Civilization offers a devastating rebuttal to such comfortable myths anddebunks the notion that warfare was introduced to primitive societies throughcontact with civilization (an idea he denounces as "the pacification of thepast").Building on much fascinating archeological and historical research and offeringan astute comparison of warfare in civilized and prehistoric societies, frommodern European states to the Plains Indians of North America, War BeforeCivilization convincingly demonstrates that prehistoric warfare was in fact moredeadly, more frequent, and more ruthless than modern war. To support this point,Keeley provides a wide-ranging look at warfare and brutality in the prehistoricworld. He reveals, for instance, that prehistorical tactics favoring raids andambushes, as opposed to formal battles, often yielded a high death-rate; thatadult males falling into the hands of their enemies were almost universallykilled; and that surprise raids seldom spared even women and children. Keeleycites evidence of ancient massacres in many areas of the world, including thediscovery in South Dakota of a prehistoric mass grave containing the remains ofover 500 scalped and mutilated men, women, and children (a slaughter that tookplace a century and a half before the arrival of Columbus). In addition, Keeleysurveys the prevalence of looting, destruction, and trophy-taking in all kindsof warfare and again finds little moral distinction between ancient warriors andcivilized armies. Finally, and perhaps most controversially, he examines theevidence of cannibalism among some preliterate peoples.Keeley is a seasoned writer and his book is packed with vivid, eye-openingdetails (for instance, that the homicide rate of prehistoric Illinois villagersmay have exceeded that of the modern United States by some 70 times). But healso goes beyond grisly facts to address the larger moral and philosophicalissues raised by his work. What are the causes of war? Are human beingsinherently violent? How can we ensure peace in our own time? Challenging some ofour most dearly held beliefs, Keeley's conclusions are bound to stircontroversy.

LC Classification NumberGN799.W26K44 1996