This is the first of French's four volumes, which could be considered as the missing half of standard human history textbooks, taking an eye to women's experiences beginning with prehistory and moving through early civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Peru, India, Greece, and Rome, through the first millennium BCE. The text's language is non-technical and accessible to a wide readership. French discusses women as they related with and were treated in spiritual, institutional, social, political, and family life, among other forums, beginning with a chapter on parents in prehistoric Zaire and other sites. The final three chapters comprise brief histories of women in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam through the ages. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)