Book ID: 99500
Laws, Bill
Fifty Plants that changes the course of history. 2010. illus. 224 p. gr8vo. Hardcover.
The book is a fascinating and beautifully presented guide to the plants that have had the greatest impact on human civilization through the ages. Entries range from crop staples like rice and wheat, which have fed entire populations for centuries, to herbs and spices that are highly prized for their medicinal qualities. Plants are judged by their influence in four categories: edible, medicinal, commercial and practical. The origins and history of each plant are discussed; where and how it came to prominence, the cultures and sometimes the personalities it impacted upon, its dispersal throughout the world and its modern-day commercial and cultural status.