The Conquest of the World examines the history of human exploitation of the Earth from the rise of social complexity and the harnessing of human and animal energy to control the environment. The innovation of food production placed humans in a very small club of animals, including social insects, who are able to project their needs over time and to appropriate the bodies and efforts of other beings. The main focus is on how humans have gained and organized an increasing amount of the Earth, and how a small population of humans, concentrated in the Middle East and Europe, came to dominate the landmass, oceans, wealth, and energy of all populations over the past 2,000 years. Niccolo Caldararo recounts how this conquest occurred in a short period of time and was facilitated by technology and war, progressive ideology, slavery and religion.
Examining human domination of Earth, this work explores how societies evolved from early food production innovations to achieve lasting control over land and resources. It reveals the historical forces—technology, war, ideology, and exploitation—that reshaped the world over the past two millennia.
