Gimbutas, and by extension Eisler, with all her claims after those, moves onto increasingly shakier ground.* Anything after that, we can't really say for sure. My conclusion: there are a couple strong points to the idea of a more egalitarian Neolithic society that had possible elements of a religion involving numerous goddesses. Gimbutas is a highly controversial figure in archaeology, and I tried to wade a bit into the debate around her by reading a number of articles, to better weigh Eisler's argument. The first half is in large part a summary and popularizing of the work of archaeologist Marija Gimbutas, who argues that before the spread of Indo-European civilization there existed a matrifocal, peaceful, egalitarian society, that practiced a predominately female-oriented polytheism that also involved a single Goddess figure.

I read it because I know a number of people who claim this book fundamentally shaped their worldview (and a number of others who don't make that claim, but are certainly influenced by the popularity of Eisler's ideas).

The first half is in large part a summary and popularizing of the work of archaeologist Marija Gimbutas, who argues that before the spread of Indo-European civilization there existed a Three stars because it was a pretty interesting read, and she covers, well, all of human history.

Three stars because it was a pretty interesting read, and she covers, well, all of human history.

The chalice and the blade fantasy