In this book, you will read about the West African empires of Ghana and Mali. You will read about how and why their traditions were closely linked to gold. Up until the 1350 AD, West Africa was supplying the two-thirds of the world's gold. This means that West Africa was a wealthy civilization that used gold for wealth and trading purposes.

"One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited Earth. Yet today there is only one--homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us? Most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but Dr. Yuval Noah Harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition."--

Why did Eurasians conquer, displace, or decimate Native Americans, Australians, and Africans, instead of the reverse? In this groundbreaking book, evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond stunningly dismantles racially based theories of human history by revealing the environmental factors actually responsible for history's broadest patterns. Here, at last, is a world history that really is a history of all the world's peoples, a unified narrative of human...

Are you fascinated by the Aztec Empire? Have you ever wanted to learn more about the people and events that shaped this ancient civilization? Now, you can! With this comprehensive book, you'll explore the Aztec culture and its lasting impact on the world. From their iconic cities to their religious beliefs and customs, you'll gain an insightful look into the Aztecs. We'll take a closer look at their incredible advancements in architecture, astronomy,...

"In this first volume of the full-color illustrated adaptation of his groundbreaking book, renowned historian Yuval Harari tells the story of humankind's creation and evolution, exploring the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be 'human'. From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens challenges us to reconsider accepted...

R. Buckminster Fuller is regarded as one of the most important figures of the 20th century, renowned for his achievements as an inventor, designer, architect, philosopher, mathematician, and dogged individualist. Perhaps best remembered for the Geodesic Dome and the term "Spaceship Earth," his work and his writings have had a profound impact on modern life and thought. Critical Path is Fuller's master work-the summing up of a lifetime's thought and...

The Anthropocene -- the Human Age -- provides Diane Ackerman with the subject for her 24th and most ambitious book. Ackerman has established herself over the past quarter of a century as one of our most adventurous, charismatic and engrossing public science writers. Since her 1990 breakout title, "A Natural History of the Senses,"she has demonstrated a rare versatility, a contagious curiosity and a gift for painting quick, memorable tableaus drawn...

At Will Durant's death in 1981, his personal papers were dispersed among relatives, collectors, and archive houses. Twenty years later, scholar John Little discovered the previously unknown manuscript of Heroes of History in Durant's granddaughter's garage. Written shortly before he died, these twenty-one essays serve as an abbreviated version of Durant's bestselling, eleven-volume series, The Story of Civilization. Durant traces

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In The Law of Civilization and Decay (1895), Adams presents his theory that historical events are determined by economic conditions. While believing that economic concerns-trade and the accumulation of wealth, for example-provided a primary impetus for civilization, he also believed that, unchecked, they invariably led to collapse.