Ideal for introduction to archaeology and world prehistory courses, The Past in Perspective: An Introduction to Human Prehistory, Sixth Edition, is an engaging and up-to-date chronological overview of human prehistory. Kenneth L. Feder introduces students to "the big picture"--the grand sweep of human evolutionary history--presenting the human past within the context of fundamental themes of cultural evolution. Written in a refreshingly accessible voice, this unique narrative personalizes the past and makes it relevant to today's students. Using a consistent chapter format--"Prelude, Chronicle, Issues and Debates, and Case Study Close-up"--Feder helps students master both what we definitely know and what is still debatable about the complex story of the human past. New to This Edition: * An expanded discussion of techniques in the discovery, analysis, and interpretation of archaeological sites (Ch. 2) * A new section on archaeological ethics * Updated coverage of the earliest human settlement of the Pacific and in the New World (Ch. 7) * A new "Issues and Debates" discussion: Was the Development of Civilization a Good Thing? (Ch.

10) * Updated treatment of the Indus Valley and the development of the state in ancient China (Ch. 11) * An expanded presentation of the Inca, including a new "Case Study Close-up" on child sacrifice (Ch. 13) * A new "Case Study Close-up" (Ch. 14), organized to focus exclusively on North America.