By the charismatic host of the PBS miniseries "How Art Made the World," a compelling and gorgeously illustrated account of how humans made art and how art makes us human.

In the late nineteenth century, the first discoveries of prehistoric painting were greeted with incredulity. How could there have been such deft and skillful artists in the world over 30,000 years ago? Noted art historian Nigel Spivey begins with this puzzle to explore the record of humanity's artistic endeavors and their impact on our own development.

Embarking with the motto, "Everyone is an artist," Spivey takes us on a quest to find out when and how we humans began to explore the deepest questions of life, using visual artforms. With the help of vivid color illustrations of some of the world's most moving and enduring works of art, Spivey shows how that art has been used as a means of mass persuasion, essential to the creation of hierarchical societies, and finally, the extent to which art has served as a mode of terror management in the face of our inevitable death. Packed with new insights into ancient wonders and fascinating stories from all around the globe, How Art Made the World is a compelling account of how humans made art and how art makes us human.

奈杰尔•斯皮维（Nigel Spivey）

英国剑桥大学古典艺术与考古学学者。著有《青铜上的歌》《古代奥运会》等书，曾担任BBC/PBS纪录片《艺术创世记》主持人。

盛夏（译者）

独立撰稿人、翻译工作者。美国艾奥瓦州立大学博士。2013年起从事艺术领域翻译工作，与《艺术新闻》《艺术界》等媒体以及豪瑟沃斯画廊等知名艺术机构长期合作。