Items related to The History of Cannibalism: Ritual, Survival, Myth...
The History of Cannibalism: Ritual, Survival, Myth (Skriuwer.com Edition) (History Books) - Softcover
Synopsis
Cannibalism is one of the strongest taboos in human society, and yet its history is far more widespread and varied than the word suggests. This book examines cannibalism across human history, drawing on archaeology, anthropology, and historical records to distinguish between ritual cannibalism, survival cannibalism, and the exaggerated or false accusations that colonial powers used to justify conquest.
The book covers documented cases from prehistoric Europe, the Americas, and the Pacific, as well as historical episodes of survival cannibalism in modern times. It also examines how the concept of cannibalism has been weaponized as propaganda and how anthropological understanding of the practice has changed significantly over the past century. It is a factual and analytically sound treatment of a subject that is often handled sensationally.
Contents:
Reader review:"A serious and well-researched book on a difficult subject. It separates fact from myth and the history is genuinely fascinating." -- P. Ashworth
This title belongs in anthropology, cultural history, and dark history sections. It suits academic booksellers, public libraries, and trade buyers with customers interested in the more unusual corners of human history.
Order now.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Authors
Hi, I'm Auke, a passionate advocate for the Frisian language with deep roots in Frisian culture. I grew up in this vibrant heritage and have dedicated myself to preserving our unique linguistic identity. It's spoken by about 500,000 people, mostly in Friesland, Netherlands. As a key contributor to Skriuwer.com, I work with others to create books that educate and inspire, helping ensure the Frisian language, recognized as an official language alongside Dutch, stays alive for future generations. My work comes from a strong belief in language as the foundation of history and belonging. I'm proud that proceeds from these books support nonprofit efforts like De Fryske Wrâld. Join me in sustaining this ancient European tongue. Let's keep Frisian thriving.
Jennifer Joseph is an expert in history and languages. She highlights the ties between cultures, conflicts, and communication. She earned a BA in International Relations from the University of Rochester in New York, USA, and an MA in International Law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This background combines strong research with simple, easy-to-read stories.Her career includes teaching English online to Chinese students, which boosted her skills in cultural exchange. As an American living in the South of France, her broad view comes from travels starting in childhood. These trips sparked her love for uncovering hidden stories in history among diverse groups.At Skriuwer.com, as a team member and copywriter, she has written books on history and languages. They explore forgotten times and how ideas shape societies.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Search results for The History of Cannibalism: Ritual, Survival, Myth...
Stock Image
UNKNOWN
ISBN 10: 3565083220
ISBN 13: 9783565083220
Used
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: As New. Unread book in perfect condition. Seller Inventory # 51809872
Stock Image
UNKNOWN
ISBN 10: 3565083220
ISBN 13: 9783565083220
New
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 51809872-n
Stock Image
The History of Cannibalism: Ritual, Survival, Myth (Skriuwer.com Edition) (History Books)
Seller: California Books, Miami, FL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # I-9783565083220
Stock Image
The History of Cannibalism: Ritual, Survival, Myth
Print on DemandSeller: Majestic Books, Hounslow, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Print on Demand. Seller Inventory # 407907504
Buy New
£ 15.95
£ 6.50 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 4 available
Stock Image
The History of Cannibalism: Ritual, Survival, Myth
Print on DemandSeller: Books Puddle, Woodside, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Print on Demand. Seller Inventory # 26405246831
Stock Image
The History of Cannibalism: Ritual, Survival, Myth
Print on DemandSeller: Biblios, Frankfurt am main, HESSE, Germany
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. PRINT ON DEMAND. Seller Inventory # 18405246821
Stock Image
The History of Cannibalism: Ritual, Survival, Myth
Seller: Revaluation Books, Exeter, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Brand New. 196 pages. 6.00x0.42x9.00 inches. In Stock. Seller Inventory # x-3565083220
Buy New
£ 15.58
£ 10 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 2 available
Stock Image
The History of Cannibalism
Print on DemandSeller: BuchWeltWeit Ludwig Meier e.K., Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -History's polite plates hide the gnaw marks: ancient Sumerians etching liver omens on clay, their priests divvying foe-flesh like market cuts to curry god favors. Fast to the Americas, where Aztec butchers stacked skull racks taller than temples, hearts yanked hot for Huitzilopochtli's altar while the crowd bayed for the show. These weren't rogue bites-they were the era's etiquette, from Celtic wicker pyres torching tribes for harvest hails to Inuit elders slipping into pots during polar pangs, a grim grace note to life's ledger.Colonial ink smeared it darker: Spanish chroniclers peddling Carib barbecue tales to justify conquests, while Franklin's lost expedition gnawed boots and worse in Arctic ice traps. Famine's frenzy hit Europe hard-1348's plague pits overflowing till neighbors eyed neighbors like roasts, or Ireland's '48 potato rot turning cabins to charnel houses. It's a catalog of what hunger hollows out, turning taboos to tallow when the gods or the grain gods get stingy.Twentieth-century chills linger: Uruguayan rugby crash survivors drawing straws over cordillera corpses, or Dahmer's Milwaukee fridge stocked with secrets that chilled detectives to the bone. Cannibalism doesn't die easy-it's the underbelly stitch in our story, a reminder that the line between man and meal blurs fast in the dark. This book's your reluctant chew on the forbidden, facts that stick like gristle between the teeth. 196 pp. Englisch. Seller Inventory # 9783565083220
Seller Image
The History of Cannibalism : Ritual, Survival, and Myth (Revised Edition)
Seller: AHA-BUCH GmbH, Einbeck, Germany
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - Why does nearly every culture on earth have stories about eating human flesh This book takes on one of humanity's oldest and most uncomfortable subjects, not as shock material, but as a serious look at how cannibalism has shaped empires, fueled propaganda, and haunted human history from the Stone Age to the modern era.From Aztec ritual consumption to the desperate choices made on lifeboats and in besieged cities, from witch trial confessions of infant cannibalism to colonial powers labeling entire peoples as man eaters to justify slavery, the subject is traced across cultures and centuries. Forensic evidence, diaries, court records, and anthropological research separate what actually happened from what was invented, exaggerated, or weaponized. The result is a book that treats its subject with both honesty and empathy, never reducing it to horror for its own sake.Sacred and survival cannibalism, Aztec rituals reframed as Spanish propaganda, the Donner Party diaries, and cannibalism as a colonial weapon. Seller Inventory # 9783565083220
Stock Image
The History of Cannibalism (Paperback)
Print on DemandSeller: CitiRetail, Stevenage, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Humanity's Darkest Taboo: Cannibalism Through the Ages"The History of Cannibalism" confronts one of mankind's most unsettling practices, exploring how societies across time have grappled with the line between survival and savagery. From prehistoric bone markings hinting at ritual feasts to colonial accusations weaponizing the label, this book evokes the raw fear of the forbidden and the high stakes of moral judgment, reminding us how accusations of man-eating have justified conquest, persecution, and cultural erasure while revealing uncomfortable truths about human desperation.It opens with prehistoric evidence, where cave finds and cut marks spark debates on survival versus ritual motivations. Ancient Near Eastern texts blend myths with siege starvation, as Greek and Roman writers deploy cannibal tropes for propaganda.Egyptian hymns and North African rumors blur funerary rites with outsider fears. Early European skeletal traces suggest occasional consumption amid hardship.Mesoamerican rituals demand flesh for cosmic balance, while Andean highland famine forces grim choices. Pacific island rites involve headhunting and trophy feasts, as North American evidence divides scholars on ritual versus conflict.Medieval chronicles frame siege cannibalism as divine punishment, with religious symbolism clashing against absolute taboos. Travel narratives mix fact and fiction to demonize distant peoples.Witch hunts conjure infant-eating sabbaths under torture, while fairy tales embed child-devouring monsters. Enlightenment thinkers question colonial myths, paving empirical inquiry.19th-century anthropology debates ritual prevalence, integrating cannibalism into evolutionary theories. Legacy examines how narratives shaped perceptions and justified subjugation.Comparable to Bill Schutt's "Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History," which blends science and stories with wit, this volume aligns with 2025 trends in dark anthropology books exploring human extremes for true crime fans. Its broad marketability appeals to history buffs, psychology readers, and taboo enthusiasts, promising strong sales for bookstores in anthropology sections. By weaving emotional stakes like desperation amid scarcity and judgment through fear, it connects readers to humanity's shadowed past, inspiring reflection on how ancient practices mirror modern moral dilemmas. This book uncovers cannibalism from prehistoric evidence and ancient myths to ritual practices in Mesoamerica, Pacific islands, medieval sieges, witch hunts, and colonial accusations. Like Schutt's natural history approach. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9783565083220
Buy New
£ 16.99
£ 37 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available