Energy and civilization : a history

Resource Information

The work Energy and civilization : a history represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of Missouri Libraries. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Energy and civilization : a history

Title remainder

a history

Statement of responsibility

Vaclav Smil

Creator

• Smil, Vaclav

Author

• Smil, Vaclav

Subject

• Consommation d'énergie
• Energieverbrauch
• Energieversorgung
• Energy consumption -- Social aspects
• Energy consumption -- Social aspects
• History
• Industriegesellschaft
• Power resources
• Power resources -- History
• Power resources -- Social aspects
• Power resources -- Social aspects
• Ressources énergétiques -- histoire
• Technology and civilization
• Technology and civilization
• Technology and civilization
• Power resources
• Agrargesellschaft

Genre

• History

Language

eng

Summary

Energy is the only universal currency; it is necessary for getting anything done. The conversion of energy on Earth ranges from terra-forming forces of plate tectonics to cumulative erosive effects of raindrops. Life on Earth depends on the photosynthetic conversion of solar energy into plant biomass. Humans have come to rely on many more energy flows -- ranging from fossil fuels to photovoltaic generation of electricity -- for their civilized existence. In this monumental history, Vaclav Smil provides a comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel--driven civilization. Humans are the only species that can systematically harness energies outside their bodies, using the power of their intellect and an enormous variety of artifacts -- from the simplest tools to internal combustion engines and nuclear reactors. The epochal transition to fossil fuels affected everything: agriculture, industry, transportation, weapons, communication, economics, urbanization, quality of life, politics, and the environment. Smil describes humanity's energy eras in panoramic and interdisciplinary fashion, offering readers a magisterial overview. This book is an extensively updated and expanded version of Smil's Energy in World History (1994). Smil has incorporated an enormous amount of new material, reflecting the dramatic developments in energy studies over the last two decades and his own research over that time

Member of

• Energy in world history

Cataloging source

DLC

Dewey number

333.7909

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

LC call number

TJ163.5

LC item number

.S623 2017

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography