The Botany of the Anthropologist. How Plants Created Humans. Flowers-Berries

In this book, the author delves into the world of dicotyledonous plants – from the ancient Amborellaceae and water lilies to luxurious magnolias, fragrant laurels, and diverse rosaceous plants. Through the lens of their evolution and interaction with humans, unexpected connections are revealed: how spices inspired great geographical discoveries, why poisonous plants became medicines, and how the shapes of flowers and fruits influenced culture, mythology, and even politics.

You will learn:

— why pepper and cinnamon drove history more than wars;

— how parasitic plants and ant allies created amazing ecosystems;

— what grapes, the human gene alcohol dehydrogenase, and civilizational traditions have in common;

— how botanical mistakes led to epidemics, and ancient plants became symbols of gods and power.