The world was once a place of insurmountable distances until humanity learned to conquer friction. 'The Wheel Mandate' documents the mechanical revolution that laid the foundation for every civilization. From Sumerian potter's wheels to the paved roads of Rome-we examine how the circular shape exponentially increased human reach. It is the story of logistics as an instrument of power. Learn how the chariot changed warfare and how the heavy cart first made trade in bulk goods possible. We analyze the physical hurdles of land transport and how the wheel fueled the emergence of the first megacities. This book shows that the wheel was not just an invention, but a law of efficiency that reordered the hierarchies of the world. Look behind the heroic battles at the wooden axles that carried empires. A fascinating account of the simplest and at the same time most powerful machine of mankind. Understand the mechanics of transport and how it made our planet shrink. Without the wheel, there would be no stagnation, but also no progress.

The world was once a place of insurmountable distances until humanity learned to conquer friction. 'The Wheel Mandate' documents the mechanical revolution that laid the foundation for every civilization. From Sumerian potter's wheels to the paved roads of Rome-we examine how the circular shape exponentially increased human reach. It is the story of logistics as an instrument of power. Learn how the chariot changed warfare and how the heavy cart first made trade in bulk goods possible. We analyze the physical hurdles of land transport and how the wheel fueled the emergence of the first megacities. This book shows that the wheel was not just an invention, but a law of efficiency that reordered the hierarchies of the world. Look behind the heroic battles at the wooden axles that carried empires. A fascinating account of the simplest and at the same time most powerful machine of mankind. Understand the mechanics of transport and how it made our planet shrink. Without the wheel, there would be no stagnation, but also no progress.