The Earth Transformed

An Untold History

By: Peter Frankopan

Narrated by: Peter Frankopan

A revolutionary new history that reveals how climate change has dramatically shaped the development—and demise—of civilizations across time

Global warming is one of the greatest dangers mankind faces today. Even as temperatures increase, sea levels rise, and natural disasters escalate, our current environmental crisis feels difficult to predict and understand. But climate change and its effects on us are not new. In a bold narrative that spans centuries and continents, Peter Frankopan argues that nature has always played a fundamental role in the writing of history. From the fall of the Moche civilization in South America that came about because of the cyclical pressures of El Niño to volcanic eruptions in Iceland that affected Egypt and helped bring the Ottoman empire to its knees, climate change and its influences have always been with us.

Frankopan explains how the Vikings emerged thanks to catastrophic crop failure, why the roots of regime change in eleventh-century Baghdad lay in the collapse of cotton prices resulting from unusual climate patterns, and why the western expansion of the frontiers in North America was directly affected by solar flare activity in the eighteenth century. Again and again, Frankopan shows that when past empires have failed to act sustainably, they have been met with catastrophe. Blending brilliant historical writing and cutting-edge scientific research, The Earth Transformed will radically reframe the way we look at the world and our future.

*Includes a downloadable PDF of historic maps and global charts from the book, as well as the written acknowledgements

A bit unfocused but comprehensive history lesson

Like many, I was drawn to this after reading silk roads and being interested in climate change and humans’ interactions with it. Overall I thought it was a good read. It covered a lot of ground both geographically and in terms of time. However, it just didn’t seem to have focus and jumped around a bit much. It was hard to make out what his point was at several parts of the book. I would say it was worth the read/listen, but it could have used a little editing

Dense

Disappointed that the text wasn't as compelling as Silk Roads....sentences meander and I frequently had to replay to understand the point. I liked Brian Fagan's The Little Ice Age much more, although I realize it didn't have the scope of the Frankopan book. Also, I really didn't like Frankopan's narration.

Comprehensive and balanced review of climate and environment through the ages

It clarified many events of human history and the earth evolution and the insignificance of our journey as a race in the context of the future of the planet.

HUMANITY'S TRIAL

Peter Frankopan journeys from pre-history to the present to offer perspective on the earth’s global warming crisis. He reviews what is either speculated or known of disastrous world events. Frankopan recalls histories of major volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts, famines, pandemics, and epidemics that have changed the course of history. Frankopan wryly observes global warming is a crisis, but that human life is as likely to end from another cataclysmic natural event or nuclear war as the imminent warming of the world.

One hopes histories past lessons inform a future that includes a place for the youth of this, the next, and future generations. World change brought on by crises have been overcome in the past through human adaptation. It seems reasonable to presume, despite the ignorance of some national leaders, that humanity will survive today’s global warming crisis.

Read before you die

An extraordinary piece of research and historical account that everyone fortunate enough to access it should consider essential reading in their lifetime.