Alfred W. Crosby Jr. byl interdisciplinárním výzkumníkem, který propojoval historii, geografii, biologii a medicínu. Zkoumal historické příčiny nerovnoměrného rozložení světového bohatství a roli, kterou v tom hrály biologické faktory. Klíčovým tématem jeho práce byl vliv epidemií na lidské dějiny, včetně dopadu pandemie španělské chřipky na svět. Crosby je také tvůrcem termínu „kolumbovská výměna“, který zásadním způsobem ovlivnil historické bádání.
"The best thing about this book is its overarching thesis, the concept of a Columbian exchange. This provocative device permits Crosby to shape a lot of familiar and seemingly unrelated data into a fresh synthesis. . . . The implications of this interplay between novel biological and social forces are fascinating." Journal of American History.
We don't often recognize the humble activity of cooking for the revolutionary cultural adaptation that it is. But when the hearth fires started burning in the Paleolithic, humankind broadened the exploitation of food and took one of several great leaps forward.
The book explores the transformative transition from qualitative to quantitative perception in Western Europe during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. This pivotal change laid the groundwork for modern science, technology, and business, influencing various fields, including time and space measurements, mathematics, music, and painting. It reveals the depth of this shift, demonstrating its far-reaching impact on multiple aspects of culture and thought, highlighting its significance beyond mere numerical analysis.
Thirty years ago, Alfred Crosby published a small work that illuminated a simple point, that the most important changes brought on by the voyages of Columbus were not social or political, but biological in nature. The book told the story of how 1492 sparked the movement of organisms, both large and small, in both directions across the Atlantic. This Columbian exchange, between the Old World and the New, changed the history of our planet drastically and forever.The book The Columbian Exchange changed the field of history drastically and forever as well. It has become one of the foundational works in the burgeoning field of environmental history, and it remains one of the canonical texts for the study of world history. This 30th anniversary edition of The Columbian Exchange includes a new preface from the author, reflecting on the book and its creation, and a new foreword by J. R. McNeill that demonstrates how Crosby established a brand new perspective for understanding ecological and social events. As the foreword indicates, The Columbian Exchange remains a vital book, a small work that contains within the inspiration for future examinations into what happens when two peoples, separated by time and space, finally meet.
The narrative explores the devastating influenza pandemic of 1918-1919, which resulted in the deaths of over 25 million people globally. It delves into the social, medical, and historical implications of the outbreak, examining how it spread and the responses from various governments and health organizations. The book highlights personal stories and the broader impact on society, offering a comprehensive look at one of the deadliest pandemics in history and its lasting effects on public health.
Exploring the evolution of human capabilities, this book delves into the significance of accurate throwing and fire manipulation. Historian Alfred W. Crosby examines how these skills have enabled the development of simple weapons, atomic bombs, and space exploration, highlighting their impact on human progress and innovation.
This 1997 book discusses the shift from qualitative to quantitative perception which occurred in Western Europe during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance and which was to lead to western domination of science and technology.
A fascinating study of the important role of biology in European expansion, from 900 to 1900.
Thirty years ago, Alfred Crosby published a small work that stressed a simple point - that the most important changes brought on by the voyages of Columbus were not social or political, but biological in nature. This 30th anniversary edition includes a new preface from the author.
