Shaping World History [Paperback]

This innovative survey of world history from earliest times to the present focuses on the role of four factors in the development of humankind: climate, communication and transportation technology, scientific advances, and the competence of political elites. Matossian moves chronologically through fifteen historic periods showing how one or more of the causative factors led to significant breakthroughs in human history. Shaping World History is based on original research and also draws widely from the literature on the history of science, technology, climate, agriculture, and historical epidemiology. This compelling analysis is presented in a personal style and includes reflections on how things work and why they are important.Part 1 Introduction - Major Causes of Breakthroughs: Climatic Changes; Technologies of Communication and Transportation; The Competence of Political Elites; Scientific Progress. Part 2 From Hominids to Humans - Biology, Geography and Climatic Change: Anthropology and Prehistory; Geography and Prehistory; How Climatic Changes are Reconstructed. Part 3 The First Farmers: The Origins of Agriculture; Mouldy Food and Mortality; Agriculture in Other Regions; Metallurgy, Pre-Writing and Trade; Transportation Technology and Trade; Toward the Birth of Civilizations. Part 4 The Birth of Civilization 3000-500 BC: Ploughing and Irrigation; The Invention of Writing in Eurasia; Social Control; Climatic Change for the Worse; Political Decentralization and Colonization; Bronze Metallurgy; Iron Metallurgy; Conclusion. Part 5 The Roman Empire and the Han Empire, 200 BC to AD 200: Population Trends; Political Organization; Political Thinking; Climatic Changes; Industrial Technology; Communication Technology; Transportation Technology; The Struggle for Character; Imperial Decline; Conclusion. Part 6 The Chinese Millennium, AD 500-1500: Climatic Change and Population History; Technological Improvements, 500-1000; 1000-1300; 1300-1500; The Decline of Chinese Invel)