Marq De Villiers Poradie kníh

Exploring the significance of the English longbow, this book delves into its construction from rare yew wood and its unparalleled qualities of accuracy, rapid firing, and lethality. It highlights how this formidable weapon played a crucial role in altering the balance of power in medieval Europe, showcasing its impact on warfare and society during that era.

In a book that is beautifully written and full of surprises, Marq de Villiers and Sheila Hirtle describe the Sahara desert in all its remarkable complexity. The authors’ revelations reinforce some common assumptions about the “Great Emptiness” – but others are challenged. There’s water in the Sahara – massive aquifers sufficient to irrigate farmlands for decades. Just fifteen per cent of the Sahara is covered by sand; much of the rest is mountainous. Sand dunes move, but they don’t drift so much as hop, skip, dance, and swirl. The desert appears barren, but teems with life: lizards and snakes, jerboas and foxes, scorpions and endless swarms of bugs make their living in this harsh region. So do ancient and nomadic peoples: Berbers, Chaambra, Moors, Bedouin, Tuareg, Tubu. There has been commerce in the Sahara for hundreds of years. Salt, gold, and slaves are mined, harvested, and traded there still. The authors explore the majesty and mystery of this great African enigma in a journey that is enriched both by historical insight and practical experience.

Wasserverknappung, Umweltverschmutzung und Klimawandel werden die globalen Probleme des 21. Jahrhunderts sein. De Villiers schickt den Leser auf eine faszinierende und zugleich aufrüttelnde Reise durch die Geschichte des blauen Goldes, von den Anfängen der Wassernutzung bis zum weltweiten Kampf um die wertvollste Ressource im ausgehenden 20. Jahrhundert.