Part of a resurgence in the comparative study of ancient societies, this book presents a variety of methods and approaches to comparative analysis through the e

Dr Tainter describes nearly two dozen cases of collapse and reviews more than 2000 years of explanations. He then develops a new and far-reaching theory.

This book interprets how ancient civilizations responded to various stresses, including environmental change, warfare, and the fragmentation of political instit

One of the richest and most complex civilizations in ancient America evolved around Lake Titicaca in southern Peru and northern Bolivia. This book is the first

This book, a comparative study of specialised production in prehistoric societies, examines approaches to specialization and exchange.