Paper is one of the simplest and most essential pieces of human technology. For the past two millennia, the ability to produce it in ever more efficient ways has supported the proliferation of literacy, media, religion, education, commerce, and art; it has formed the foundation of civilizations, promoting revolutions and restoring stability. By tracing paper’s evolution from antiquity to the present, with an emphasis on the contributions made in Asia and the Middle East, Mark Kurlansky challenges common assumptions about technology’s influence, affirming that paper is here to stay. Paper will be the commodity history that guides us forward in the twenty-first century and illuminates our times.
Paper is one of the simplest and most essential pieces of human technology. For the past two millennia, the ability to produce it in ever more efficient ways has supported the proliferation of literacy, media, religion, education, commerce, and art; it has formed the foundation of civilizations, promoting revolutions and restoring stability. By tracing paper’s evolution from antiquity to the present, with an emphasis on the contributions made in Asia and the Middle East, Mark Kurlansky challenges common assumptions about technology’s influence, affirming that paper is here to stay. Paper will be the commodity history that guides us forward in the twenty-first century and illuminates our times.
| ISBN-13: | 9780393353709 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. |
| Publication date: | 05/23/2017 |
| Edition description: | Reprint |
| Pages: | 416 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.20(d) |
From wars to royals to major events in culture and humanity, catching up on history can be an intimidating feat. Fear not — microhistories are your best bet. Read up on these wonderful, wild and weird slices of our world, from the everlasting hunt for cryptids to tiny creatures that shape our ecosystems to the […]
