The Savage Wars of Peace: England, Japan and the Malthusian Trap

by A. Macfarlane

Overview

This book aims to solve the problem of how parts of mankind escaped from an apparently inevitable trap of war, famine and disease in the last three hundred years. Through a detailed comparative analysis of English and Japanese history it explores such matters as the destruction of war, decline of famine, importance of certain drinks (especially tea), the use of human excrement and the effects of housing, clothing and bathing on human health. It also shows how the English and Japanese controlled fertility through marriage and sexual patterns, biological and contraceptive factors, abortion and infanticide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781403904324
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	11/19/2002
Edition description:	2003
Pages:	427
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.04(d)

About the Author

ALAN MACFARLANE is Professor of Anthropological Science at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of King's College. In 1986 he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy. His previous books include The Making of the Modern World and The Riddle of the Modern World, both published by Palgrave.

Table of Contents

Introduction PART ONE: THE TRAP The Malthusian Trap Two Islands PART TWO: WARS OF PEACE Natural Environment, Culture and Human Labour The Destruction of War The Nature, Causes and Elimination of Famine Food and Nutrition PART THREE: THE BODY Dysentry, Typhoid, Cholera and the Water Supply Drink: Milk, Water, Beer and Tea Two Methods for the Disposal of Human Excrement PART FOUR: ON THE BODY Vector-borne Diseases: Plague, Typhus and Malaria Public Environs: Streets, Fields and Markets Housing and Health Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Bodily Hygiene: Bathing and Washing Changing Concepts of Dirt and Cleanliness PART FIVE: IN THE AIR Air-borne Diseases: Smallpox, Measles and Tuberculosis PART SIX: IN THE WOMB Fertility, Marriage and Sexual Relations Biology and Contraception Abortion and Infanticide Strategies of Heirship PART SEVEN: OUTCOME Design and Chance

Editorial Reviews

'It gave me great pleasure, not least because it is so elegantly written; and above all it did what all splendid books should do, it whetted my curiosity' - Roy Porter

'Rewarding and innovative.' - The Times Higher

'The crescendo of a highly successful writing career...a very remarkable book by a very remarkable man.' - Peter Laslett, The American Historical Review

'In The Savage Wars of Peace, we have a rare work combining highly dense and detailed scholarship with both lucid prose and an intriguing argument for students of both demography and politics.' - Bethany Lacina, Journal of Peace Research

From the Publisher