About the Book
The History of Mankind, Volume 1 is a faithful reprint of Friedrich Ratzel’s 1896 English translation of his original German work Völkerkunde, one of the founding texts of modern anthropology and human geography. Ratzel surveys human cultures across the globe as they were documented at the close of the 19th century, drawing on the ethnographic research, travel accounts, and museum collections available to scholars of his era. As a Forgotten Books Classic Reprint, this edition preserves the original text exactly as first published, making it a primary source for anyone studying the history of anthropology itself.
Why Readers Choose This Book
- A foundational, widely-cited text in the early history of comparative ethnography and human geography
- A faithful reprint that preserves the original 1896 English translation, useful as a primary historical source
- Includes the original maps and illustrations referenced in period reviews of the work
- A valuable reference for tracing how anthropology as a discipline developed over the 20th century
Who Should Read This Book
Best suited to students and researchers of the history of anthropology, human geography, and 19th-century scientific thought, as well as collectors of classic academic reprints. Important context: as a faithful reprint of an 1896 text, this book reflects the racial and cultural theories of its time, including language and classifications now considered outdated and inaccurate by modern anthropology. It is presented here as a historical and academic document, not as a current scientific reference.
About the Author
Friedrich Ratzel (1844–1904) was a German geographer and ethnographer, widely regarded as a founding figure of human geography, whose original Völkerkunde was translated into English as The History of Mankind shortly after its publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a modern anthropology textbook?
No — this is a faithful reprint of an 1896 academic text, useful as a historical primary source rather than a current reference on anthropology.
Does this reprint include the original illustrations and maps?
Yes, Forgotten Books reprints reproduce the original edition’s illustrations and maps as published.
Is Volume 1 a complete standalone work, or part of a set?
Ratzel’s original History of Mankind was published in three volumes; this listing covers Volume 1 only.
Why does this book contain outdated racial terminology?
As a faithful reprint of an 1896 text, it reflects the anthropological theories and language of its era, which modern scholarship has since revised; it is sold here as a historical document.
Specifications
| Title | The History of Mankind, Vol. 1 (Classic Reprint) |
| Author | Friedrich Ratzel |
| Publisher | Forgotten Books |
| Publication Date | 22 April 2018 |
| Language | English |
| Binding | Paperback |
| Pages | 558 |
| ISBN-10 | 1332748619 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1332748617 |
| Weight | 735 g |
| Dimensions | 15.2 x 3.2 x 22.8 cm |
| Genre | Anthropology / History (Classic Reprint) |
People Also Ask
Is this the same as Ratzel’s Anthropogeographie?
No — that’s a separate, earlier work by Ratzel on human geography theory. The History of Mankind is his English-translated ethnographic survey.
Are Volumes 2 and 3 of The History of Mankind also available as reprints?
Forgotten Books publishes all three volumes of the original work as separate Classic Reprint editions.
Is this book suitable for a general reader, or only academics?
It’s dense, period academic writing best suited to readers with a specific interest in the history of anthropology rather than casual reading.
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