"Using the work of archaeologists and palaeoanthropologists, W. M. Spellman shows how the interpretation of physical remains can give us insight into prehistoric perspectives on death. A Brief History of Death traces how humans have died over the centuries, both looking at the causes of death and the varied views regarding actions that lead to the deaths of others. It spotlights the great philosophical and scientific traditions of the West - the "rationalist" standpoint on end-of-life matters - while also casting new light on the major religious beliefs that emerged in the ancient world, focusing in particular on the centuries-long development of the Christian tradition without neglecting Eastern philosophies. Three approaches to the meaning of death - the negotiation of life, continuity in another form, and agnosticsm - are delved into from both religious and secular-scientific perspectives"--Dust jacket flap.