MMW 1: Prehistory and the Birth of Civilization

This quarter introduces students to what is known about early humans, including the evolution of the human body and the characteristics of Paleolithic and Neolithic cultures. It examines contemporary hunter-gatherer and tribal societies, illuminating the complexity of such cultures with respect to mythology and oral tradition, interpersonal relations, and ecological practices. The course concludes with an analysis of the emergence of large agrarian societies and the earliest great settled communities and civilizations.