Volume 5: Terra Nostra: Landscapes, Humans, and Architecture in Anthropological Perspective

Landscapes. The tropical landscape of Africa, with its resources and risks, created a background to human origin, while the cold and open landscapes of northern Eurasia  accelerated subsequent social and technological development. The effects of forest on isolation of populations were rather conservative, while the aridisation and formation of deserts stimulated human migrations. Various roles of mountain chains, rivers and oceans in creating socio-cultural networks are evaluated as well.

Humans. The dispersal of our species (Homo sapiens) is separated by geographic and cultural barriers, partly corresponding to the distribution of languages. This picture is continuously being modified by gene-flow caused by irregular demographic growth and transcontinental migrations.  

Architecture. Human dwelling (together with fire, clothings and shoes) forms an essential component of cultural adaptation. An ideal shape, material and size was dictated by climate, sorrounding landscape, and social functions. Earliest dwellings were simple in construction, until the time when complex human societies started to raise momuments – large stones, pyramids, temples and statues…