Eminent historian Patricia Crone defines the common features of a wide range of
pre-industrial societies, from locations as seemingly disparate as the Mongol Em
pire and pre-Columbian America, to cultures as diverse as the Ming Dynasty and s
eventeenth-century France. In a lucid exploration of the characteristics shared
by these societies, the author examines such key elements as economic organizati
on, politics, culture, and the role of religion. An essential introductory text
for all students of history, Pre-Industrial Societies provides readers with all
the necessary tools for gaining a substantial understanding of life in pre-moder
n times.
