Methods for Human History: Studying Social, Cultural, and Biological Evolution

by Patrick Manning

Overview

This book presents a concise yet comprehensive survey of methods used in the expanding studies of human evolution, paying particular attention to new work on social evolution. The first part of the book presents principal methods for the study of biological, cultural, and social evolution, plus migration, group behavior, institutions, politics, and environment. The second part provides a chronological and analytical account of the development of these methods from 1850 to the present, showing how multidisciplinary rose to link physical, biological, ecological, and social sciences. The work is especially relevant for readers in history and social sciences but will be of interest to readers in biological and ecological fields who are interested in exploring a wide range of evolutionary studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030538811
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	09/29/2020
Edition description:	1st ed. 2020
Pages:	199
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Patrick Manning is Andrew W. Mellon Professor of World History, Emeritus, at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was the founding director of the World History Center from 2008 to 2015. Mannnign served as president of the American Historical Association from 2016-2017, and is currently the president of the World History Network. He has authored and edited over fifteen books, including the forthcoming title A History of Humanity (2020).

Table of Contents

1.Introduction
Part I: Methods for Human History
2. Human Evolution: Biological, Cultural, and Social
3. Physical Science and Biological Coevolution
4. Systems and Information Science
5. Behavior of Individuals and Groups
6. Study of Human Institutions
7. Emotions and Human Nature
Part II: Disciplines and Theories
8. Disciplines and their Evolution
9. Natural Selection in an Imperial Era, 1850–1945
10. DNA in a Progressive Era, 1945–1980
11. Ecology and Society in a Neoliberal Era, 1980–2010
12. Cross-Disciplinary Analysis in Global Tension, 2010–2020