Pre-Industrial Societies: Anatomy of the Pre-Modern World

A succinct overview of how society functioned before the Industrial Revolution, this enlightening introduction provides readers with all the tools necessary for a more substantial understanding of life in pre-modern times. Eminent historian Patricia Crone defines the common features of a wide range of pre-industrial societies, from locations as remote as the Mongol Empire and pre-Columbian America, to cultures as diverse as the Ming Dynasty and seventeenth-century France. Crone's lucid and engaging exploration of the characteristics shared by these societies covers such key elements as: economic organization. the state and politics. culture. the unique role of religion. As an essential introductory text for all students of history, and a perceptive insight into a lost world, this readable book will also prove a useful starting point for all those interested in the present possibilities and future challenges facing our own global society.