Product Description

Henry Hobhouse was the first to recognise plants as a causal factor in history in his Seeds of Wealth. In this new book, he examines four plants: rubber, timber, tobacco and the wine grape, each of which enormously increased the wealth of those who dealt in them, created great new industries and changed the course of history. Ancient Rome's monopoly on wine production had huge economic and hygienic importance. Without rubber, there would have been no development of cars, buses and trucks, bicycles, waterproof clothing or even tennis balls and condoms. Tobacco has largely been condemned for its effects on health and its true role in history ignored. Tobacco has often been used in place of currency and its growth in Virginia supported a colony that produced much of the talent that made Independence possible. Timber shortages led the British Royal Navy to become dependent on American timber. The dearth of timber drove English coal mines deep, which led to the steam pumps, steam engines, and ultimately the Industrial Revolution. These are fascinating stories the effect of minutiae on the great waves of history. 'You cannot help but admire and enjoy the company of a man who takes such a novel and global view of history' Spectator

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #531491 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

From Booklist
The four "plants" of the subtitle are timber, wine, rubber, and tobacco. Timber, Hobhouse points out, was important in the history of England and the 13 North American colonies. The colonies supplied timber to the mother country, and it was American timber that aided the development of fishing and whaling, railroads, and wooden houses in new cities such as Chicago. Hobhouse discusses the wealth-creating potential of wine from before the time of Periclean Athens, through the Roman and medieval eras, up to the present. Rubber, the author reminds, has generated wealth for many nations and has largely created three new ones: Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Tobacco, a plant with a negative contemporary image, had historically profound effects on Anglo-American relations. The cigarette was invented in the 1840s and the cigarette-making machine developed in the 1870s. Hobhouse posits that the greatest beneficiaries in most countries "have been, since about 1920, the tax gatherers." Written in the form of essays, this book lucidly illustrates how these four plants created new industries and changed the course of history. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Plants, Wealth and History

This fascinating book looks at the causative role of plants in history. The cultivation of and trade in these plants created enormous wealth and changed the history of the world in many ways.

The chapter on timber is titled The Essential Carpet. In it, Hobhouse discusses how the shortage of timber in the United Kingdom led to the use of coal, which led to scientific advances and ultimately to the industrial revolution. On the other hand, the abundance of timber in the USA spurred the westward march of the country during the 1800s.

In The Grape's Bid For Immortality, the author discusses the growing of vines and making of wine from 600BC to the present. Wine has an enormous potential for the creation of wealth, multiplying nett profits wherever it is successful.

In the chapter Wheels Shod For Speed, he tells the story of rubber and how it changed the economies of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and indeed the world. More Than A Smoke is a fascinating account of how the colony and ultimately state of Virginia owes it wealth to tobacco. Initially this area had a monopoly on tobacco by decree of the king of England. This industry created a landlord class, which amongst them counted certain signatories of the Declaration of Independence, like Washington and Jefferson.

The book is full of fascinating facts and observations, for example that the original alkaline tobacco might not be harmful and that the acidity of modern cigarettes might be the root cause of the harmful effects of smoking on health.

Seeds Of Wealth is a truly engrossing book as it deals with politics, economics, global history and more particularly Anglo-American relations, and the role of nature in creating wealth and economic growth. The text contains black and white illustrations and the book concludes with a bibliography and an index.