Peter Frankopan, The Transformations of the Earth: Climate, Ecology, and History, translated by Nikos Ligris, published by Alexandria Press
Peter Frankopan is rightly regarded as one of the best historians in the world. His works have all contributed significantly to the analysis of global history, but more importantly, they have helped the general public better understand it. Among his works translated into Greek and published by Alexandria Press are The First Crusade: The Call of the East, The Silk Roads: A New History of the World, The New Silk Roads: The Present and Future of the World, and the book we will discuss here, The Transformations of the Earth: Climate, Ecology, and History.
It may seem somewhat cliché, but it’s worth mentioning: when as a reader you hold such a massive volume in your hands—707 pages, excluding references and other notes—it’s impossible not to admire the extensive research and study of so many diverse sources conducted by the author to present such a scientifically grounded work. And the fact that his observations in this book span the entire planet and cover a timeline from the origins of the world—approximately 4.5 billion years ago—up to the 21st century, makes the completion of such a monumental work even more impressive.
The truth is, most things and events in history—at least those we can know—have already been said. Therefore, today’s historians often turn to comparative studies and interdisciplinary approaches to their subjects, such as the one Frankopan uses in this book. The author examines how the climate, land transformations, and ecological changes influenced the development of human history. More specifically, he explores how climate change has dramatically contributed to both the rise and fall of civilizations over time.
The impetus for writing this book was undoubtedly the current climate change, which is driven by human activity and is now widely supported by 99% of scientists, according to the author. The truth is, this is the first time in history that a climate change affects the entire planet and is clearly visible across all continents. Previous climate periods, like the Roman Warm Period or the Medieval Warm Period, did not impact the entire world and did not have the same effects on all civilizations.
Frankopan examines human interventions in the environment, starting from prehistory through to the industrial era and the 20th century, when human interference with the natural world reached unprecedented and irreversible scales.
So, did the "invention" of agriculture result from a warmer climate? How did volcanic eruptions over the centuries affect the global climate? Were there laws in ancient times that prohibited deforestation? Can the rise and fall of Rome be explained by climate factors? How did the Little Ice Age in Europe impact the development of privacy? Did globalization begin in the 15th century? What exactly happened during the so-called "Columbian Exchange"? What is the biggest pollutant on our planet today? Are there sustainable solutions? These are just a few of the many questions the book addresses.
In conclusion, this is a book of knowledge that will make us reflect on how the presence of humans has affected our planet over the centuries—and how the earth itself has shaped human civilizations, as well as the uncertain future of our world.
