Fruit from the Sands

"A comprehensive and entertaining historical and botanical review, providing an enjoyable and cognitive read.”—Nature

The foods we eat have a deep and often surprising past. From almonds and apples to tea and rice, many foods that we consume today have histories that can be traced out of prehistoric Central Asia along the tracks of the Silk Road to kitchens in Europe, America, China, and elsewhere in East Asia. The exchange of goods, ideas, cultural practices, and genes along these ancient routes extends back five thousand years, and organized trade along the Silk Road dates to at least Han Dynasty China in the second century BC. Balancing a broad array of archaeological, botanical, and historical evidence, Fruit from the Sands presents the fascinating story of the origins and spread of agriculture across Inner Asia and into Europe and East Asia. Through the preserved remains of plants found in archaeological sites, Robert N. Spengler III identifies the regions where our most familiar crops were domesticated and follows their routes as people carried them around the world. With vivid examples, Fruit from the Sands explores how the foods we eat have shaped the course of human history and transformed cuisines all over the globe.

„O recenzie istorica si botanica cuprinzatoare si distractiva, oferind o lectura placuta si cognitiva.” - Natura Alimentele pe care le consumam au un trecut profund si adesea surprinzator. De la migdale si mere la ceai si orez, multe alimente pe care le consumam astazi au istorii care poate fi urmarit din Asia Centrala preistorica de-a lungul urmelor Drumului Matasii pana la bucatariile din Europa, America, China si alte parti din Asia de Est.