Review by Magda
This non-fiction book covers two constants in the hundreds of years of human history: continuous migrations and reoccurring pandemics. This very well-written and researched book uncovers a new field of archeology called Archaeogenetics. These scientists take bones and teeth that are hundreds of thousands of years old to their labs to extract ancient human DNA. These new discoveries redraw the map of human migrations and relationships between the early humans, the Neanderthals, and Denisovans. From this book, we learn why we have green eyes, how different skin colors came about, and why some of us are lactose intolerant. With the help of this new branch of science, ancient history is told in a new way. While living in our own pandemic, this book provides a look in the rearview mirror and reminds us that we are not living in a unique circumstance of human experience.
Find A Short History of Humanity: A New History of Old Europe by Johannes Krause with Thomas Trappe; translated by Caroline Waight at one of our branches.
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