Henry Hobhouse – författare

Henry Hobhouse was the first to recognise plants as a causal factor in history in his Seeds of Wealth. In this new book, he examines four plants: rubber, timber, tobacco and the wine grape, each of which enormously increased the wealth of those who dealt in them, created great new industries and changed the course of history.Ancient Rome's monopoly on wine production had huge economic and hygienic importance. Without rubber, there would have been no development of cars, buses and trucks, bicycles, waterproof clothing or even tennis balls and condoms. Tobacco has largely been condemned for its effects on health and its true role in history ignored. Tobacco has often been used in place of currency and its growth in Virginia supported a colony that produced much of the talent that made Independence possible. Timber shortages led the British Royal Navy to become dependent on American timber. The dearth of timber drove English coal mines deep, which led to the steam pumps, steam engines, and ultimately the Industrial Revolution.These are fascinating stories the effect of minutiae on the great waves of history.'You cannot help but admire and enjoy the company of a man who takes such a novel and global view of history' Spectator

Henry Hobhouse was the first to recognise plants as a causal factor in history in his Seeds of Wealth. In this new book, he examines four plants: rubber, timber, tobacco and the wine grape, each of which enormously increased the wealth of those who dealt in them, created great new industries and changed the course of history.Ancient Rome's monopoly on wine production had huge economic and hygienic importance. Without rubber, there would have been no development of cars, buses and trucks, bicycles, waterproof clothing or even tennis balls and condoms. Tobacco has largely been condemned for its effects on health and its true role in history ignored. Tobacco has often been used in place of currency and its growth in Virginia supported a colony that produced much of the talent that made Independence possible. Timber shortages led the British Royal Navy to become dependent on American timber. The dearth of timber drove English coal mines deep, which led to the steam pumps, steam engines, and ultimately the Industrial Revolution.These are fascinating stories the effect of minutiae on the great waves of history.'You cannot help but admire and enjoy the company of a man who takes such a novel and global view of history' Spectator

Six plantes : la quinine, le sucre, le thé, le coton, la pomme de terre, et la coca, exploitées par l''homme par besoin ou cupidité, ont changé le cours de l''histoire et ainsi influencé le destin de millions d''êtres humains.Cette thèse, que défend ici l''historien et journaliste Henry Hobhouse, nous entraîne dans un éblouissant voyage à travers l''espace et le temps. De l''esclavage sucrier et cotonnier à la guerre de l''opium, en passant par les grandes vagues d''immigrations irlandaises, il nous révèle ce que le monde d''aujourd''hui doit à ces six plantes.

Six plantes : la quinine, le sucre, le thé, le coton, la pomme de terre, et la coca, exploitées par l''homme par besoin ou cupidité, ont changé le cours de l''histoire et ainsi influencé le destin de millions d''êtres humains.Cette thèse, que défend ici l''historien et journaliste Henry Hobhouse, nous entraîne dans un éblouissant voyage à travers l''espace et le temps. De l''esclavage sucrier et cotonnier à la guerre de l''opium, en passant par les grandes vagues d''immigrations irlandaises, il nous révèle ce que le monde d''aujourd''hui doit à ces six plantes.