The Roots of Civilisation : Plants That Changed the World

They feed us, shelter us, clothe us, cure us and clean the air that we breathe. The Roots of Civilisation takes a closer look at these plants that most of us just take for granted, but which have changed the world, for better and for worse. The story of these plants is also the story of human survival and ingenuity, the invention of agriculture, the greed of men and their rulers, and the founding of trade routes and empires. In this title, advances in science and medicine are charted and there are the new frontiers such as genetic modification and the plants grown by NASA in outer space. The Roots of Civilisation looks not only at the better known world-changers like opium, tobacco, cotton and the orchid, but also at the humbler flora that have quietly but profoundly shaped human civilisation.

John Newton is a freelance writer, journalist and novelist. For Murdoch Books, John has written A Little Taste of Spain and Beppi: A Life in Three Courses. John's awards for food writing include The Golden Ladle for Best Food Journalism in the 2005 World Food Media Awards. John lives in Sydney and recently raised his first broad beans, tomatoes and strawberries in his inner city courtyard.