Domestication of Plants in the Old World: The Origin and Spread of Cultivated Plants in West Asia, Europe, and the Nile Valley - Couverture rigide

Zohary, Daniel

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0198547951 ISBN 13 : 9780198547952

Editeur : Clarendon Press, 1993

Synopsis

This study reviews the origin and subsequent spread of the plants on which Old World food production was founded. It is based on detailed consideration of two lines of evidence: the plant remains found at archaeological sites, and the knowledge that has accumulated about the present-day wild relatives of cultivated plants. General conclusions are presented separately from the facts that bear upon them, so that readers can draw their own conclusions from the evidence. The text has been considerably revised to include a chapter on dye plants and new information on vegetables and fruit trees.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

The origin of agriculture is one of the defining events of human history. Some 10,000 years ago bands of hunter-gatherers started to abandon their high-mobility lifestyles in favour of growing crops, and the creation of settled, sedentary communities. This settlement in favour of the agricultural lifestyle triggered the evolution of complex political and economic structures, and technological developments, and ultimately underpinned the rise of all the great civilisations of recent human history. Domestication of Plants in the Old World reviews the origin and spread of cultivation in south-west Asia, Europe, and north-east Africa, from the very earliest beginnings. This new edition incorporates the most recent findings from molecular biology about the genetic relations between domesticated plants and their wild ancestors; it adds material on several new crop plants; and it incorporates extensive new archaeological data about the spread of agriculture within the region. The reference list has been completely updated, as have the list of archaeological sites and the site maps. From reviews of the second edition: 'This book is indeed a "mine of information". An enormous and diverse body of important results is digested and presented economically, in a form that should encourage other authors to mine it and apply the results to their own fields.' Nature 'This is an excellent book, suitable for libraries, reference shelves, and anyone who teaches or writes about plant domestication.' Journal of Ethnobiology 'Only a few years after the publication, in 1988, of Zohary and Hopf's textbook, the volume was already out of print.... One cannot be grateful enough to the authors that they seized the opportunity to update the book.... An indispensable reference work; a wealth of information is presented in a systematic way.... This already classic textbook has amply proven its value, and hardly needs further recommendation.' Helinium

Présentation de l'éditeur

Now in paperback, the second edition of this book reviews the origins and spread of cultivated plants in southwest Asia, Europe, and Africa north of the Sahara, from the earliest beginnings through to classical times. This new edition includes a chapter on dye plants, and significant new information on vegetables, fruit trees, and some grain crops. The authors examine evidence from archaeological sites and living plants to provide a modern synthesis of crop plant evolution. They provide answers to questions such as: What were the first plants to be domesticated in the Old World? Where have the first signs of their domestication been found, and what subsequent developments can be traced? What crops have been introduced from other parts of Asia and Africa? When did all these events take place? A chronological chart, site orientation maps, and full set of references complete the book. From the review of the hardcover edition "..... indeed a 'mine of information'. An enormous and diverse body of important results is digested and presented economically, in a form that should encourage other authors to mine it and apply the results to their own fields.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Clarendon Press
• Date d'édition: 1993
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0198547951
• ISBN 13: 9780198547952
• Reliure: Relié
• Numéro d'édition: 2
• Nombre de pages: 288
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: Ufficio Anagrafiche Messaggerie; ufficio.anagrafiche@meli.it; ; Via Verdi, 8; Assago Milano; 20090; Italie