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The Tropical Turn
Agricultural Innovation in the Ancient Middle East and the Mediterranean
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The Tropical Turn
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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
This book chronicles the earliest histories of familiar tropical Asian crops in the ancient Middle East and the Mediterranean, from rice and cotton to citruses and cucumbers. Drawing on archaeological materials and textual sources in over seven ancient languages, The Tropical Turn unravels the breathtaking anthropogenic peregrinations of these familiar crops from their homelands in tropical and subtropical Asia to the Middle East and the Mediterranean, showing the significant impact South Asia had on the ecologies, dietary habits, and cultural identities of peoples across the ancient world.
In the process, Sureshkumar Muthukumaran offers a fresh narrative history of human connectivity across Afro-Eurasia from the Bronze Age to the late centuries BCE.
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?
The Tropical Turn by Sureshkumar Muthukumaran is praised for its impressive use of archaeological data and diverse textual sources, offering an inspiring exploration of historical East-West connections. The book is commended for its thorough overview of palaeobotanical and textual research regarding plant diffusion, appealing to both experts and general readers interested in agriculture and archaeology.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780520390843
Publisher: University of California Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 14 March 2023
Country: United States
Imprint: University of California Press
Illustration: 27 b-w illustrations, 10 maps
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 25.0mm
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 229.0mm
Weight: 454g
Pages: 320
About the Author
Sureshkumar Muthukumaran is a historian of the ancient world. He is a Lecturer in History at the National University of Singapore and has previously taught at University College London and Yale-NUS College.
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