Human Frontiers, Environments and Disease Past Patterns, Uncertain Futures [Paperback]

A compelling account of the relentless trajectory of humankind across time and geography.This compelling account charts the relentless trajectory of humankind across time and geography, and its changing survival patterns, from several million years ago when our ancient ancestors roamed the African savannah to today's populous, industrialised, globalising world. This dynamic expansion of human frontiers--geographic, climatic, cultural and technological--has encountered frequent setbacks from disease, famine and dwindling resources. The central theme of the book encompasses the social and environmental transformations wrought by agrarianism, industrialisation, fertility control, social modernisation, urbanisation and consumerism and how this affects patterns of health and disease.This compelling account charts the relentless trajectory of humankind across time and geography, and its changing survival patterns, from several million years ago when our ancient ancestors roamed the African savannah to today's populous, industrialised, globalising world. This dynamic expansion of human frontiers--geographic, climatic, cultural and technological--has encountered frequent setbacks from disease, famine and dwindling resources. The central theme of the book encompasses the social and environmental transformations wrought by agrarianism, industrialisation, fertility control, social modernisation, urbanisation and consumerism and how this affects patterns of health and disease.Charting the relentless trajectory of humankind across time and geography, Tony McMichael highlights the changing survival patterns of our ancient ancestors, who roamed the African savannahs several million years ago, to today's populous, industrialized, and globalized world. McMichael explores the changes in human biology, culture, and surrounding environments that have influenced patterns of health and disease over the course of humankind's history, arguing that the health of populations is primarily a plÓh