"A Green History of the World"

A GREEN HISTORY OF THE WORLD

The environment and the collapse of of great civilizations

Author - Clive Ponting

Published 1991 - revised 2007 under title "A New Green history of the world."

Both editions available, as books, on line and 2007 edition as an ebook.

Clive Ponting, a historian, gives a history of the world from an environmental perspective as the human race evolves from hunter gatherers to the late 20th. Century. He traced the rise and fall of a number of civilisations, Roman, Egyptian, Mayan, Aztec and others. He traces their rise followed by collapse as they demanded more from their environment than that environment could support. From this he draws lessons to be learnt today as we face the greatest collapse of human civilisation yet to be experienced.

In many ways Clive Ponting was, as was Charles, Prince of Wales, now King Charles the third, ahead of the vast majority of people, including politicians. They both suffered derision from the ignorant.

The cover of my 1991 edition has the following quote on its cover. "If there is a single book on the subject to engage the enthusiast, silence the critic, and enlighten the ignoramus, this is it." That statement remains true today as then.

 This book should be compulsory reading in churches, as it deals with how we are fulfilling our duties as stewards of this planet. It should also be a part of the basic history curriculum in schools and universities as it challenges many of the notions of human progress. In schools it should also be a part of environmental studies. This book should also be compulsory reading for politicians at all levels before they start pronouncing on environmental issues and their obsession with the continuous growth of the economy and world population.

A, (New), Green History of the World, is a book, very well researched and written by an academic but easily accessible to the vast majority of readers, whether they are academically inclined or not.

I have no doubt I will read this book again in the future. I may well treat myself to a revised, 2007, copy to replace my well thumbed, thirty year old, 1991 copy.

A book well worth reading, the historical analysis remains solid despite its age. It's prophetic view certainly remains challenging.

Walter Attwood