Prehistoric Life
2 total works
The "Prehistoric Life" series covers the whole of prehistory from the formation of the universe to the first settlements and begining of history. The six volumes follow on from each other chronologically and they provide the young reader with an introduction to such sujects such as the birth of the Earth, the reign of the dinosaurs, and the evolution of our present-day horses, elephants, apes and cats. This book looks at the evolution of the first people and at some aspects of their primitive cultures. Using simple language, the author explains for the young reader some of the difficultes faced by scientists trying to understand human evolution. He looks at various stages in the development of the first people and suggests why they developed in this way. He also looks the growth of their primitive cultures: the tools they produced, their use of fire, the way the mammoth hunters helped each other to catch their prey, and even their artistic and musical talents. The author has written several other books for Wayland, including titles in the "Great Disasters" and "Myths and Legends" series.
Each volume in the "Prehistoric Life" series examines a different aspect of prehistory, from the formation of the universe to the first settlements. Readers are given an understanding of the reign of the dinosaurs and the evolution of present day animals. This title examines the Ice Age and its effect on the animals that then inhabited the Earth, tracing their story until the ice retreated. The book begins with an explanation of how the last Ice Age happened and how the Earth's landscape was altered due to the glaciers. The author examines the effects of this colder climate upon vegetation and wildlife, discussing the typical environments of tundra and coniferous forests. He describes the evolution of many specially-adapted animals, such as mammoths, cave bears and lions, and evolutionary opposites in the form of giant apes and pygmy elephants. The book concludes by examining the interglacial periods, and explains how the last Ice Age came to an end.