Origins: How the Earth Shaped Human History

Lewis Dartnell

ISBN 10: 1847924352 / ISBN 13: 9781847924353

Published by Vintage Publishing, United Kingdom, London, 2019

About this Item

**SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER** Origins by Lewis Dartnell stands comparison with Yuval Noah Hararis SapiensA thrilling piece of Big History Sunday Times 'A sweeping, brilliant overview of the history not only of our species but of the world' Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads When we talk about human history, we focus on great leaders, mass migration and decisive wars. But how has the Earth itself determined our destiny? How has our planet made us? As a species we are shaped by our environment. Geological forces drove our evolution in East Africa; mountainous terrain led to the development of democracy in Greece; and today voting behaviour in the United States follows the bed of an ancient sea. The human story is the story of these forces, from plate tectonics and climate change, to atmospheric circulation and ocean currents. How are the Himalayas linked to the orbit of the Earth, and to the formation of the British Isles? By taking us billions of years into our planets past, Professor Lewis Dartnell tells us the ultimate origin story. When we reach the point where history becomes science we see a vast web of connections that underwrites our modern world and helps us face the challenges of the future. From the cultivation of the first crops to the founding of modern states, Origins reveals the Earths awesome impact on the shape of human civilizations. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Seller Inventory # GOR009566389

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Origins: How the Earth Shaped Human History
• Publisher: Vintage Publishing, United Kingdom, London
• Publication Date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1847924352
• ISBN 13: 9781847924353
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Very Good
• Weight: 721 grams

About this title

Synopsis

**SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**

‘Origins by Lewis Dartnell stands comparison with Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens…A thrilling piece of Big History’ Sunday Times

'A sweeping, brilliant overview of the history not only of our species but of the world' Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads

When we talk about human history, we focus on great leaders, mass migration and decisive wars. But how has the Earth itself determined our destiny? How has our planet made us?

As a species we are shaped by our environment. Geological forces drove our evolution in East Africa; mountainous terrain led to the development of democracy in Greece; and today voting behaviour in the United States follows the bed of an ancient sea. The human story is the story of these forces, from plate tectonics and climate change, to atmospheric circulation and ocean currents.

How are the Himalayas linked to the orbit of the Earth, and to the formation of the British Isles? By taking us billions of years into our planet’s past, Professor Lewis Dartnell tells us the ultimate origin story. When we reach the point where history becomes science we see a vast web of connections that underwrites our modern world and helps us face the challenges of the future.

From the cultivation of the first crops to the founding of modern states, Origins reveals the Earth’s awesome impact on the shape of human civilizations.

About the Author

Lewis Dartnell is an astrobiology researcher and professor at the University of Westminster, and also an Honorary Research Associate at University College London (UCL). He is the author of the bestselling books The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch and Origins: How the Earth Shaped Human History, which has been translated into 26 languages. He writes for the Guardian, The Times and New Scientist. Copies of The Knowledge exist on the surface of the Moon, and in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.