World History 6th edition by William J. Duiker

World History 6th edition by William J. Duiker ISBN-13: 9780495569015 ISBN-10: 0495569011FOR SEVERAL MILLION YEARS aft er primates fi rst appearedon the surface of the earth, human beings lived insmall communities, seeking to survive by hunting, fi shing,and foraging in a frequently hostile environment. Th ensuddenly, in the space of a few thousand years, there was anabrupt change of direction as humans in a few widely scatteredareas of the globe began to master the art of cultivatingfood crops. As food production increased, the populationin those areas rose correspondingly, and people beganto congregate in larger communities. Governments wereformed to provide protection and other needed services tothe local population. Cities appeared and became the focalpoint of cultural and religious development. Historians referto this process as the beginnings of civilization.