This accessible and insightful textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the economics of prehistory. By offering a chronological account of the beginnings of economics and human society, it charts the key developments in early human history, from the evolution of social norms and colonizing of unknown continents, to the development of early technology and the transition to agricultural food production. The book presents and is structured around a climate pulse model of human evolution, showing how repeated cycles of warm and cold periods have shaped human behavior. Particular attention is given to how human capital, the natural environment, social capital, and the spread of knowledge and technical skills interacted with climate change and propelled economic development during prehistory. The origin of modern concerns, including wealth inequality, stratified societies, and environmental change, are thoughtfully presented through the examining of the birth of the first states and human civilization.

This book provides a thrilling account of human evolution and economic development from its African origins and hunter-gather days, through to the invention of agriculture and the rise of early states. Bringing together ideas from across political economy, paleoclimatology, anthropology, and evolutionary biology, it will be relevant to students and general readers interested in these topics.