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A review by jstilts
Where Did They Go? by James Cornell
informative
fast-paced
3.0
Bought this second-hand on a whim for a dollar while traveling.
Not a bad little kids info book to broaden their horizons into history - that human culture is neither a monoculture nor linear in developing sophistication.
In a quick literary style each chapter gives an insight into the day-to-day life of a dead culture (as best it can, considering) then details why we believe that civilization is no longer with us. Unfortunately the answer is usually some variation on "somebody invaded and killed them all" which can make for a bit of a grim tone, but there is some nuance beyond that - and the occasional out-and-out mystery too.
Considering when this was published it's no surprise that the lense it looks through history at is a white western colonialist one, but this is more an unconcious bias than an overt philosophy - while you won't find the author consulting the lost cultures nearest descendants for insights and theories in favour of white explorers discoveries, neither will you find them espousing "white western culture survived because we are the superior one" trains of thought either.
If nothing else in modern hands this book could send children down some tantalising internet rabbit holes - a brief search for each lost civilization in Wikipedia alone gives greater insight into how our understanding of these lost cultures has broadened in the last century, with detailed archaeological information that will fascinate the curious young mind.
Not a bad little kids info book to broaden their horizons into history - that human culture is neither a monoculture nor linear in developing sophistication.
In a quick literary style each chapter gives an insight into the day-to-day life of a dead culture (as best it can, considering) then details why we believe that civilization is no longer with us. Unfortunately the answer is usually some variation on "somebody invaded and killed them all" which can make for a bit of a grim tone, but there is some nuance beyond that - and the occasional out-and-out mystery too.
Considering when this was published it's no surprise that the lense it looks through history at is a white western colonialist one, but this is more an unconcious bias than an overt philosophy - while you won't find the author consulting the lost cultures nearest descendants for insights and theories in favour of white explorers discoveries, neither will you find them espousing "white western culture survived because we are the superior one" trains of thought either.
If nothing else in modern hands this book could send children down some tantalising internet rabbit holes - a brief search for each lost civilization in Wikipedia alone gives greater insight into how our understanding of these lost cultures has broadened in the last century, with detailed archaeological information that will fascinate the curious young mind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide and War
Minor: Colonisation