Deadly Companions : How Microbes Shaped Our History – Dorothy H. Crawford

R250.00

Ever since we started huddling together in communities, the story of human history has been inextricably entwined with the story of microbes. They have evolved and spread amongst us, shaping our culture through infection, disease, and pandemic. At the same time, our changing human culture has itself influenced the evolutionary path of microbes. Dorothy H. Crawford here shows that one cannot be truly understood without the other. Beginning with a dramatic account of the SARS pandemic at the start of the 21st century, she takes us back in time to follow the interlinked history of microbes and man, taking an up-to-date look at ancient plagues and epidemics, and identifying key changes in the way humans have lived – such as our move from hunter-gatherer to farmer to city-dweller – which made us vulnerable to microbe attack. Showing how we live our lives today – with increasing crowding and air travel – puts us once again at risk, Crawford asks whether we might ever conquer microbes completely, or whether we need to take a more microbe-centric view of the world.Among the possible answers, one thing becomes clear: that for generations to come, our deadly companions will continue to shape human history.

Hardcover, internally clean and fresh free from inscriptions Dust wrapper close to fine, basically like newand first edition

In stock

SKU: 9780192807199 Category: Title: Deadly Companions : How Microbes Shaped Our History
Author: Dorothy H. Crawford
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Year: 2007
ISBN10: 0192807196
ISBN13: 9780192807199
Condition: New
Format: Hardcover
Inventory No: 1184

Description

Ever since we started huddling together in communities, the story of human history has been inextricably entwined with the story of microbes. They have evolved and spread amongst us, shaping our culture through infection, disease, and pandemic. At the same time, our changing human culture has itself influenced the evolutionary path of microbes. Dorothy H. Crawford here shows that one cannot be truly understood without the other. Beginning with a dramatic account of the SARS pandemic at the start of the 21st century, she takes us back in time to follow the interlinked history of microbes and man, taking an up-to-date look at ancient plagues and epidemics, and identifying key changes in the way humans have lived – such as our move from hunter-gatherer to farmer to city-dweller – which made us vulnerable to microbe attack. Showing how we live our lives today – with increasing crowding and air travel – puts us once again at risk, Crawford asks whether we might ever conquer microbes completely, or whether we need to take a more microbe-centric view of the world.Among the possible answers, one thing becomes clear: that for generations to come, our deadly companions will continue to shape human history.

Hardcover, internally clean and fresh free from inscriptions Dust wrapper close to fine, basically like newand first edition

Additional information

Weight 0.46 kg
Dimensions 22.2 × 14.5 × 2.7 cm

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