Wood history or world history?

Plants have been the driver of many revolutions and discoveries in world history. Spices have had a huge impact on trade and on the development of Europe; the United States would probably not exist without tobacco; the French revolution might not have taken place without coffee, and we might still be nomadic tribes if it wasn’t for barley. But the truth is, none of these plants would matter, if there were no wood. Wood is truly the builder of our world, the means to empire building and the one plant that is vital for our survival.

Wood and Fire

http://astovegiveswarmwinter.blog.com/2012/10/17/33/

It all started more than one million years ago, when the Homo Erectus controlled fire for the first time, opening a whole new world of possibilities. Up until the Neolithic revolution, fire and wood were used for their most basic functions such as heat, light and weapons allowing the Homo erectus to evolve into the Homo sapiens. Then everything changed around 8,000 years ago, when humans decided to settle down and switch from nomadic hunter-gatherers to sedentary farmers. The Neolithic revolution would have never been possible without wood that allowed the construction of houses, the building of irrigation systems and the creation of the first agricultural tools.

Wood and the Neolithic Revolution

http://aratta.wordpress.com/neolithic-revolution/

 Slowly, our ancestors invented the wooden wheel, and created bridges. Trade rapidly emerged and led to the creation of countries that developed into big empires. The need to expand and colonize the world grew. Ships offered a solution to that desire and led to the age of discovery and colonization. Wood was used in events such as the crusades as well as in everybody’s homes. And most importantly, wood has provided us with an incredible written record of the past ever since the Chinese invented paper in 105 AD. Even today, the role of wood is undeniable. It is our most important source of renewable energy providing 9% of the total primary energy supply and more than two billion people still depend on it for heating and cooking.

One of Christopher Columbus' ships, the Niña

http://www.christopher-columbus.eu/columbus-ships.htm

Trees are vital to our survival. They cover a third of our planet and play a very important role in removing CO₂ from the atmosphere. When forests grow, they act as carbon sinks because carbon dioxide is absorbed partly in the wood. Trees can take in 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. They allow the planet to keep a cooler climate and if all the trees were to disappear, life would probably not be possible anymore. Without wood, we probably would not even have a history.

The global distribution of forests

http://www.globalwood.org/tech/forest.htm

Relevant Sites

http://www.eh-resources.org/wood.html

http://www.fao.org/forestry/energy/en/

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/forests/