The Invention of Prehistory

In this insightful work, historian Stefanos Geroulanos explores how ideas about the origins of humanity have shaped Western culture and influenced the modern world. Tracing the evolution of thought from the Enlightenment through the 19th century, he highlights the diverse and sometimes strange theories that have informed major thinkers like Rousseau, Darwin, and Marx. The book reveals how these notions, while inspiring curiosity, also underpinned repressive regimes and empire-building efforts.