Human history began some 100,000 years ago when people began to spread throughout the Earth. This book charts the rise of the earliest peoples, from the spread of farming and technolog through the Middle East and Europe to the civilzations that emerged not only in Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt, but also in regions as far apart as South Asia, China, and Peru. Contains global overview maps covering the whole period; regional maps and accompanying essays that highlight contemporary developments; and, curriculum links and glossary terms explained on the page.