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Fishing

How the Sea Fed Civilization
By Brian Fagan
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Check link for latest rating. ( 175 ratings, 21 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Fishing by Brian Fagan delves into the historical impact and significance of fishing on human civilisations. The book traces how fishing practices and innovations have shaped societies, economies, and cultures throughout the ages. Fagan explores a wide variety of fishing methods, from ancient times to the modern era, highlighting the crucial role they have played in sustaining human life and the development of communities worldwide.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you have an interest in the history of human civilisation, especially through the lens of fishing. It offers an insightful exploration of how this age-old practice has shaped societies, economies, and cultures across the globe throughout history. If you're fascinated by the story behind the development and impact of fishing on human progress, you'll likely find this a rewarding read.

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The story of humanity’s last major source of food from the wild and how it enabled and shaped the growth of civilization

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Humanity’s last major source of food from the wild, and how it enabled and shaped the growth of civilisation

In this history of fishing—not as sport but as sustenance—archaeologist and best-selling author Brian Fagan argues that fishing was an indispensable and often overlooked element in the growth of civilisation. It sustainably provided enough food to allow cities, nations, and empires to grow, but it did so with a different emphasis.

Where agriculture encouraged stability, fishing demanded movement. It frequently required a search for new and better fishing grounds; its technologies, centred on boats, facilitated movement and discovery. Fish themselves, when dried and salted, were the ideal food—lightweight, nutritious, and long-lasting—for traders, travellers, and conquering armies.

This history of the long interaction of humans and seafood tours archaeological sites worldwide to show readers how fishing fed human settlement, rising social complexity, the development of cities, and ultimately the modern world.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Fishing by Brian Fagan is lauded for elevating the role of fishing in human history, equating it with agriculture and hunting as a pivotal factor in the development of civilisation. The book is praised for its elegant, comprehensive, and engaging narrative, offering a panoramic survey of fishing's impact across different societies and eras. Reviewers highlight its readability and the way it vividly illustrates the dependence of civilisations on the sea, making it a valuable resource for enthusiasts and historians alike.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300240047

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 October 2018

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Illustration: 39 b-w illus.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 454g

Pages: 368

Collections

Ancient & Classical History Brian Fagan Global History History & Archaeology History & Military Non-Fiction

About the Author

Brian Fagan, emeritus professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is one of the world’s leading archaeological writers. His books include Fish on Friday, The Little Ice Age, and the best-selling The Great Warming.

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