Erudite; wide-ranging; a work of dazzling scholarship written with extraordinary flair; Civilizations redefines the subject that has fascinated historians from Thucydides to Gibbon to Spengler to Fernand Braudel: the nature of civilization. To the author; Oxford historian Felipe Fernández-Armesto; a society's relationship to climate; geography; and ecology are paramount in determining its degree of success. "Unlike previous attempts to write the comparative history of civilizations;" he writes; "it is arranged environment by environment; rather than period by period or society by society." Thus; for example; tundra civilizations of Ice Age Europe are linked with those of the Inuit of the Pacific Northwest; the Mississippi Mound Builders with the deforesters of eleventh-century Europe. Civilizations brilliantly connects the world of ecologist; geologist; and geographer with the panorama of cultural history.
#308657 in Books 2014-01-24 2014-07-31Original language:English 11.00 x 1.25 x 8.50l; 2.90 #File Name: 074149941X554 pages
Review
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Some what helpful but a lot of guessing on where ...By SueSome what helpful but a lot of guessing on where and when of sites... Not for the in depth researcher3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Outstanding research tool for South CarolinaBy Hugh T. HarringtonHistorian John C. Parker; Jr. has created an incredible resource for anyone caring to trace the Revolutionary War in South Carolina from the armchair or in the field. This book has no peer. It is a tool unlike any other. Over 500 South Carolina battles; skirmishes; ambushes; murders; assaults and other documented acts of war are covered in this 530 page book. Each incident; or action as they are called; is grouped in the 21st century county where it took place. Very specific directions are provided to enable the reader to go in to the field and stand on the very ground where the action took place. GPS coordinates are given. In addition; Parker gives the location a “confidence rating†of 0-5 based on his judgment as to the accuracy of the indicated position. A description of the action along with a detailed map of the area and often photographs completes the entry. There are over 500 detailed maps. For those who want to know where the information was obtained endnotes are provided....535 of them. There is a complete index as well as a chronological order of actions with the page number and county where the information can be found. This is not a guide to where historical markers (often miles from the places they describe) or major battlefields are located. While those are included; this is a superb guide that takes the reader to the sites of the lesser known actions which are often virtually unknown and unmarked. There are hundreds of entries of such little known places - in fact; the book covers virtually every documented locale in South Carolina. Parker’s Guide will take you back into history to the actual turf where the struggle over Independence was contested. I am eager for Spring to take to the road in seek of history. I wish there were similar guides for all states involved in the American Revolution.Hugh T. HarringtonEditor; Journal of the American RevolutionAuthor of:Annie Abbott "The Little Georgia Magnet" and the True Story of Dixie HaygoodRemembering MilledgevilleCivil War MilledgevilleMore Milledgeville Memories1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A huge; detailed; meticulous study of an often-ignored theater of warBy Culper; Jr.I don't know exactly what I expected to receive; but the size of the package hinted at the enormous book inside. Wow! This book looks like an old-time phone book! My wife and I are planning a tour of Revolutionary War battlefields in South Carolina next year and this will be our bible. Anything from a formal siege to a backcountry brawl is covered thoroughly; including maps and directions. Very impressive addition to my library.
