Prehistoric Life

Prehistoriclife is the archive of evolution preserved in the fossil record. Thisbook focuses on the meaning and significance of that archive and isdesigned for introductory college science students, includingnon-science majors, enrolled in survey courses emphasizingpaleontology, geology and biology.

Fromthe origins of animals to the evolution of rap music, from ancientmass extinctions to the current biodiversity crisis, and from theSnowball Earth to present day climate change this book covers it,with an eye towards showing how past life on Earth puts the modernworld into its proper context. The history of life and the patternsand processes of evolution are especially emphasized, as are theinterconnections between our planet, its climate system, and itsvaried life forms. The book does not just describe the history oflife, but uses actual examples from life’s history to illustrateimportant concepts and theories.