A Story of Civilization in 50 Disasters: From the Minoan Volcano to Climate Change (History in 50, Band 0) - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

Civilization rearranges nature for human convenience. Clothes and houses keep us warm; agriculture feeds us; medicine fights our diseases. It all worksmost of the time. But key resources lie in the most hazardous places, so we choose to live on river flood plains, on the slopes of volcanoes, at the edge of the sea, above seismic faults. We pack ourselves into cities, Petri dishes for germs. Civilization thrives on the edge of disaster. And what happens when natural forces meet molasses holding tanks, insecticides, deepwater oil rigs, nuclear power plants? We learn the hard way how to avoid the last disasterand maybe how to create the next one. What we dont know can, indeed, hurt us. This books white-knuckled journey from antiquity to the present leads us to wonder at times how humankind has survived. And yet, as Author Gale Eaton makes clear, civilization has advanced not just in spite of disasters but in part because of them. Hats off to human resilience, ingenuity, and perseverance! Theyve carried us this far; may they continue to do so into our ever-hazardous future.Dedicated to the premise that history is the greatest story ever told.Includes a mix of greatest hits with quirky, surprising, provocative accounts.Challenges readers to think and engage.Includes a glossary of technical terms; sources by chapter; teaching resources as jumping-off points for student research; and endnotes.

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