The narrative of civilization’s rise and fall is often painted with grand achievements and epic downfalls, but one of the most understated forces behind humanity’s progress—and its moments of regression—is the forest. John Perlin’s seminal work, A Forest Journey, reveals how forests have been central to human history, shaping the fate of societies from antiquity to the modern day. Perlin’s book, now in its third edition with over 150 pages of new material, has long been a cornerstone of environmental literature, even earning its place as a Harvard Classic in Science and World History. Published originally in 1986, A Forest Journey explores how wood, once the primary material for nearly all human activity, fueled the development of civilizations across millennia. From constructing homes and ships to smelting metal and producing energy, wood was indispensable. The forests supplied more than just materials—they were a source of power, enabling empires to expand and leaving ecological scars as resources dwindled. Perlin deftly charts how the exploitation of forests for timber, fuel, and other needs contributed to the rise of some of history’s greatest empires, only to sow the seeds of their collapse when the forests were depleted. Perlin’s journey through time is expansive, spanning continents and epochs. He begins with the early human use of wood as tools and fuel, through to the great civilizations of antiquity, such as the Roman Empire and Han China, whose dependence on timber led to severe deforestation. The connection between wood and empire is starkly clear: nations…This article was originally published on Mongabay
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