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The triumph of seeds : how grains, nuts, kernels, pulses, & pips conquered the plant kingdom and shaped human history /

"We live in a world of seeds. From our morning toast to the cotton in our clothes, they are quite literally the stuff and staff of life, supporting diets, economies, and civilizations around the globe. Just as the search for nutmeg and the humble peppercorn drove the Age of Discovery, so did co...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Clasificación:Libro Electrónico
Autor principal: Hanson, Thor (Autor)
Formato: Electrónico eBook
Idioma:Inglés
Publicado: New York : Basic Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group, [2015]
Temas:
Acceso en línea:Texto completo
Descripción
Sumario:"We live in a world of seeds. From our morning toast to the cotton in our clothes, they are quite literally the stuff and staff of life, supporting diets, economies, and civilizations around the globe. Just as the search for nutmeg and the humble peppercorn drove the Age of Discovery, so did coffee beans help fuel the Enlightenment, and cottonseed help spark the Industrial Revolution. And from the Fall of Rome to the Arab Spring, the fate of nations continues to hinge on the seeds of a Middle Eastern grass known as wheat. In nature and in culture, seeds are fundamental--objects of beauty, evolutionary wonder, and simple fascination. How many times has a child dropped the winged pip of a maple, marveling as it spirals its way down to the ground, or relished the way a gust of wind (or a stout breath) can send a dandelion's feathery flotilla skyward? Yet despite their importance, seeds are often seen as a commonplace, their extraordinary natural and human histories overlooked. Thanks to Thor Hanson and this stunning new book, they can be overlooked no more."--Publisher's description
Descripción Física:1 online resource
Bibliografía:Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:9780465048724
0465048722
1541616057
9781541616059