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.

奈傑爾•斯皮維（Nigel Spivey）

英國劍橋大學古典藝術與考古學學者。著有《青銅上的歌》《古代奧運會》等書，曾擔任BBC/PBS紀錄片《藝術創世記》主持人。

盛夏（譯者）

獨立撰稿人、翻譯工作者。美國艾奧瓦州立大學博士。2013年起從事藝術領域翻譯工作，與《藝術新聞》《藝術界》等媒體以及豪瑟沃斯畫廊等知名藝術機構長期閤作。