What Have Plants Ever Done for Us?: Western Civilization in Fifty Plants by Step

Description: FREE SHIPPING UK WIDE What Have Plants Ever Done for Us? by Stephen A. Harris Taking us on a chronological journey, Stephen Harris identifies fifty plants that have been key to the development of the Western world, discussing trade, politics, medicine, travel and chemistry along the way. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description When did the British Government become the worlds largest drugs pusher? What tree is frequently used to treat cancer? Which everyday condiment is the most widely traded spice on the planet?Plants are an indispensable part of our everyday life. From the coffee bush and grass for cattle which give us milk for our cappuccinos to the rubber tree which produces tyres for our cars, our lives are inextricably linked to the world of plants.Taking us on a chronological journey, Stephen Harris identifies fifty plants that have been key to the development of the Western world, discussing trade, politics, medicine, travel and chemistry along the way.Plants have provided paper and ink, chemicals that could kill or cure, vital sustenance and stimulants. Some, such as barley, have been staples from earliest times; others, such as oil palm, are newcomers to Western industry. Moreover, with time, uses change: beets, which have been used variously as a treatment for leprosy, source of sugar and animal feed, are now showing potential as biofuels. What may the future hold for mandrake or woad?We remain dependent on plants for our food, our fuel and our medicines. Their effects on our lives, as the stories in this wide-ranging and engaging book demonstrate, continue to be profound, and often unpredictable. Notes Arranged chronologically, Harris provides fascinating stories about 50 plants that have been key to the development of the western world. Author Biography Stephen Harris is Druce Curator of the Oxford University Herbaria and a University Research Lecturer. Table of Contents Introduction The Plants Barley Mandrake Beets Opium poppy Brassicas Cannabis Bread Wheat Broad bean Alliums Pea Olive Grape Papyrus Yew Rose Pines Reeds Oak Apple Pepper Carrot Woad Citrus Nutmeg White mulberry Tobacco Tulip Chilli Guinine Cocoa Potato Tomato Coffee Maize Pineapple Smooth meadow grass Lycopods Cotton Sugar Cane Coconut Rice Tea Ragwort Banana Rubber Sunflower Oil palm Soya Corncockle Thale cress Notes Further Reading Index Review "Plant scientists such as Harris are a rare breed in Britain these days. Yet their work is as important as ever."-- "Times (UK)" (1/14/2016 12:00:00 AM) Long Description When did the British Government become the worlds largest drugs pusher? What tree is frequently used to treat cancer? Which everyday condiment is the most widely traded spice on the planet?Plants are an indispensable part of our everyday life. From the coffee bush and grass for cattle which give us milk for our cappuccinos to the rubber tree which produces tyres for our cars, our lives are inextricably linked to the world of plants.Taking us on a chronological journey, Stephen Harris identifies fifty plants that have been key to the development of the Western world, discussing trade, politics, medicine, travel and chemistry along the way.Plants have provided paper and ink, chemicals that could kill or cure, vital sustenance and stimulants. Some, such as barley, have been staples from earliest times; others, such as oil palm, are newcomers to Western industry. Moreover, with time, uses change: beets, which have been used variously as a treatment for leprosy, source of sugar and animal feed, are now showing potential as biofuels. What may the future hold for mandrake or woad?We remain dependent on plants for our food, our fuel and our medicines. Their effects on our lives, as the stories in this wide-ranging and engaging book demonstrate, continue to be profound, and often unpredictable. Review Quote "Plant scientists such as Harris are a rare breed in Britain these days. Yet their work is as important as ever." Description for Sales People * Arranged chronologically, Stephen Harris provides fascinating stories about 50 plants that have been key to the development of the western world* Wide-ranging and engaging, this book demonstrates the profound, and often unpredictable, effect plants have on our lives* Beautifully illustrated with botanical line-drawings Details ISBN1851244476 Short Title WHAT HAVE PLANTS EVER DONE FOR Publisher Bodleian Library Language English ISBN-10 1851244476 ISBN-13 9781851244478 Media Book Format Hardcover Pages 272 Year 2015 Subtitle Western Civilization in Fifty Plants Place of Publication Oxford Country of Publication United Kingdom DEWEY 581.63 Publication Date 2015-11-20 Illustrations 50 Illustrations, black and white Imprint Bodleian Library UK Release Date 2015-11-20 NZ Release Date 2015-11-20 Author Stephen A. Harris Audience General AU Release Date 2015-11-19 Replaced by 9781851246526 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! 30 DAY RETURN POLICY No questions asked, 30 day returns! FREE DELIVERY No matter where you are in the UK, delivery is free. SECURE PAYMENT Peace of mind by paying through PayPal and eBay Buyer Protection TheNile_Item_ID:130822757;

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End Time: 2025-02-09T03:48:49.000Z

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