Atlas of the Prehistoric World

by Douglas Palmer

From it's beginnings as an accumulation of molten space debris over 4.6 billion years ago, the Earth has undergone astounding transformations, both geological and biological, to arrive at its familiar look today.  The Discovery Channel's Atlas of the Prehistoric World is a dynamic portrait of the Earth and the interplay among the various forces that shaped both the planet and the life upon it.

Atlas of the Prehistoric World is divided into three major sections, each of which offers a distinctive look at our planet's pre-history.

In "The Changing Globe" computer -generated global maps track the Earth's shift in topography during eighteen different geological periods.... From the rise of mountain ranges to the creation of new oceans, the world takes on its different faces through the course of eons.

"Life on Earth" chronicles the evolution of plant and animal life, from the first single-celled microbes to land-dwelling mammals. Each of the Earth's major geological eras is profiled in its own chapter, which depicts the life forms that developed as continents drifted, volcanoes erupted, and meteorites crashed to the surface. Specially commissioned panoramic illustrations take "snapshots" of life at a particular time and place....These...reflect the latest scientific thinking about how creatures from each period would have appeared, bringing to life animals and plantlife we can otherwise see only as fossils.

"Earth Fact File," an indispensable gazetteer, explains important Earth science concepts and provides a useful tool for understanding prehistory. Accompanied by over 250 full-color photographs and illustrations and 68 maps, the Discovery Channel's Atlas of the Prehistoric World is a unique must-have resource for any family member.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Palaeontology, Nature, Reference, History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

Douglas Palmer is a science writer, academic, and author of many books on paleontology, including Life Before Man and Graptolites: Writing in the Rock. In addition to writing numerous articles for leading journals such as Science and New Scientist, he teaches Natural and Earth Sciences at Cambridge University, England.

Reviews

[Fcsuper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is actually pretty hard to find these days. When I did finally get a used copy, I found the illustrations and information to be only OK as a reference point for continental drift and prehistory. I also found that the info on prehistoric animals barely touches on each prehistoric period. I purchased the book for its continental drift information and maps. In this area, I am a little disappointed. The maps provided do not show the complete landmass of each period. Each map only shows half of the Earth, and the other half is never shown in a separate map. Not being able to see the whole landmass for each period is a little annoying given that this is the main purpose for the book.
The book provides very general and unnecessarily incomplete information on prehistoric Earth's many ages.

[Lisa Konet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this "Encyclopedia" volume from my library. I loved all the anthropology, archeology and learning more in depth about the prehistoric world. The Atlantic Magazine had a great article about mass extinction in the prehistoric world and theories about what really happened to the dinosaurs.

I highly recommend that article and this if you are in to dinosaurs and learning about that time.

Highly recommended at your library!

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title has so much potential, but there is so little about it to actually call it an atlas.

The first quarter of the book has a series of green blobs on a blue background. What I was hoping for was quality at least as good as I had seen on the internet (https://www2.nau.edu/rcb7/globaltext2...).

Then the last three quarters is mostly text about the evolution of life, at about the level of a middle school biology textbook. There is only occasional reference to the topic of geography - though not as a unifying or driving theme.

[James Madsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The role of plate tectonics is very important to an understanding of the development and distribution of life on the planet, and one of the things that sets this book apart from most other books on prehistoric flora and fauna is its inclusion of wonderful depictions of the relative positions of the continents during the various geological periods. A nice coffee-table book, but much more than that as well.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The biggest plus of this book are the extensive chapters on geology, modern evolutionary theory and the cool maps of Earth during various geological eras. Especially THE MAPS, which are a real visual treat. The dioramas of life during the eras in each main chapter aren't bad either.