Prehistoric Life: An Examination of the History of Life and Evolution

Prehistoric Life is a concise, accessible textbook focusing on the history of life and evolution within a geological and climatic context. Offering critical information and avoiding unnecessary bulk, the book begins with an introduction to the notion of science, the scientific method, and the limits of science. In the first half of the text, students learn about rocks, fossils, the geologic timescale, the structure of earth, abiogenesis, evolution, and classification. The second half of the book is devoted to exploring the past 3.8 billion years of life, from the earliest single-celled organisms in the Precambrian Eon through the rich evolutionary histories of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic Eras, to today’s modern organisms, including ourselves. Prehistoric Life is ideal for courses in introductory geology, biology, and paleontology courses and can also be used as a reference guide for fossil collectors and enthusiasts alike.