Before the Dawn explores the latest discoveries on the origins of our species with meticulous detail while translating the pursuant scientific jargon into language that even laypeople can understand. Nicholas Wade focuses on our progenitor ancestors who lived 50,000 years ago in Africa.
There is a fascinating link between the invention of language and the development of ways for humans to work together to advance themselves from the boundaries Neanderthals had encircled them in. Settled communities emerged after our ancestors had to learn to tame their aggressions because of the severe climactic changes brought on by the Ice Age.
Also covered are the genesis of war, religion and the lost languages of the ancients. A somewhat controversial subject is the exploration that race plays an important part in human development. Most impressive is Wade’s ability to explain the human genome so well as to give the reader a basic understanding of these ever-changing and sometimes baffling properties.
Before the Dawn is a must-read for those who find the study of human ancestry compelling or want to learn from what they read.