Silken Thread: Five Insects and Their Impacts on Human History

Insects have significantly impacted societies, with diseases vectored by insects killing more people than all weapons of war. The Silken Thread by Robert. N. Wiedenmann and J. Ray Fisher explores the history of insects, linking them to the history of empires, cultural exchanges, and warfare. The book focuses on just five insects: a moth, a flea, a louse, a mosquito, and a bee, and uses biology to complement history.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 288 pages
\n Publication date: 13 December 2021
\n Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
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Insects, often overlooked in discussions of human history, have had a profound impact on modern societies. This book takes a multidisciplinary approach to examining their significance, placing them at the forefront. Diseases transmitted by insects have claimed more lives than all weapons of war combined. Fleas, while commonly encountered pests, can carry diseases such as the bubonic plague, with three pandemics traceable back to them. Lice have also caused epidemics of typhus. However, it is important to note that humans have also benefited from insects for millennia. Silk, derived from silkworms, and honey, produced by bees, are just a few examples of the valuable products derived from these creatures. Despite their undeniable influence on human lives, insects' stories are often neglected in historical accounts.

In The Silken Thread, entomologists Robert. N. Wiedenmann and J. Ray Fisher delve into the intricate relationship between insects and human history. The book focuses on just five insects: a moth, a flea, a louse, a mosquito, and a bee. Through meticulous research and analysis, the authors explore the historical impact of these insects and the common threads that connect them. By integrating biology with history, the authors present these small creatures in a fresh and illuminating way.

Each page of the book is carefully crafted to examine the intricate connections between history and entomology. The book begins with the cultivation of silkworms, which has been an industry for centuries. It then delves into the role of fleas in the spread of the plague, the devastating effects of lice on the Black Death, the significance of lice in wars and immigration, the role of yellow fever mosquitos in the Americas, and the connection between yellow fever and sugar and slavery.

The closing chapter of the book brings these five insects together in an exciting and thought-provoking way. The authors highlight the interconnectedness of these creatures and their profound impact on human societies. The Silken Thread is a valuable addition to the field of entomology and history, shedding light on the often overlooked role of insects in shaping our world. It serves as a reminder of the complex and fascinating relationship between humans and the natural world, and encourages us to appreciate the intricate web of life that surrounds us.

\n Weight: 582g\n
Dimension: 164 x 242 x 25 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780197555583\n \n