The Cambridge world history of Genocide general editor: Ben Kiernan Yale University ; volume 1: Genocide in the ancient medieval and premodern worlds Volume I offers an introductory survey of the phenomenon of genocide. The first five chapters examine its major recurring themes while the further nineteen are specific case studies. The combination of thematic and empirical approaches illuminates the origins and long history of genocide its causes consistent characteristics and the connections linking various cases from earliest times to the early modern era. The themes examined include the roles of racism the state religion gender prejudice famine and climate crises as well as the role of human decision making in the causation of genocide. The case studies cover events on four continents ranging from prehistoric Europe and the Andes to ancient Israel Mesopotamia the early Greek world Rome Carthage and the Mediterranean. It continues with the Norman Conquest of Englands North the Crusades the Mongol Conquests medieval India and Viet Nam and a panoramic study of pre modern China as well as the Spanish conquests of the Canary Islands the Caribbean and Mexico