Savage Wars of Peace

ALAN MACFARLANE is Professor of Anthropological Science at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of King's College. In 1986 he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy. His previous books include The Making of the Modern World and The Riddle of the Modern World, both published by Palgrave.

• Introduction PART ONE: THE TRAP The Malthusian Trap Two Islands PART TWO: WARS OF PEACE Natural Environment, Culture and Human Labour The Destruction of War The Nature, Causes and Elimination of Famine Food and Nutrition PART THREE: THE BODY Dysentry, Typhoid, Cholera and the Water Supply Drink: Milk, Water, Beer and Tea Two Methods for the Disposal of Human Excrement PART FOUR: ON THE BODY Vector-borne Diseases: Plague, Typhus and Malaria Public Environs: Streets, Fields and Markets Housing and Health Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Bodily Hygiene: Bathing and Washing Changing Concepts of Dirt and Cleanliness PART FIVE: IN THE AIR Air-borne Diseases: Smallpox, Measles and Tuberculosis PART SIX: IN THE WOMB Fertility, Marriage and Sexual Relations Biology and Contraception Abortion and Infanticide Strategies of Heirship PART SEVEN: OUTCOME Design and Chance

'It gave me great pleasure, not least because it is so elegantly written; and above all it did what all splendid books should do, it whetted my curiosity' - Roy Porter 'Rewarding and innovative.' - The Times Higher 'The crescendo of a highly successful writing career...a very remarkable book by a very remarkable man.' - Peter Laslett, The American Historical Review 'In The Savage Wars of Peace, we have a rare work combining highly dense and detailed scholarship with both lucid prose and an intriguing argument for students of both demography and politics.' - Bethany Lacina, Journal of Peace Research