
12 Substances That Changed World History
Description
Book Introduction
How has matter shaped human history?
A fascinating historical exploration of the intersection of food, disease, machines, infrastructure, energy, and artificial intelligence!
From the compass, invented in 11th-century China and ushering in the Age of Exploration in Europe, to the antibiotic discovered by chance in blue mold that saved countless lives, to plastic, a symbol of disposable products that is now transforming the future of architecture.
A look at the past, present, and future of the substances that have accompanied humanity reveals thousands of years of history at a glance! "12 Substances That Changed World History" tells the tumultuous history of 12 substances that have transformed and evolved like chameleons to adapt to the times, advancing our lives.
Author Katsuhiro Saito has been researching chemistry for 50 years after entering Tohoku University, a prestigious Japanese university specializing in basic sciences.
Based on the idea that everything in the world is related to chemicals, we introduce 12 representative substances that have changed the history of mankind, such as starch, medicine, metal, ceramics, poison, and atomic nuclei, from a new and exciting perspective.
The story closely connects history and science with extensive knowledge, covering the process by which humans sustained life through starch, the history of liberation from disease through the invention of medicine, the revolutionary event that gave birth to the machine civilization through metal, and even the future possibilities of materials such as plastics that support modern society, the atomic nucleus that will be the energy source of the future, and magnets that will lead the era of artificial intelligence.
It focuses on how each material was discovered, how it is used in modern society, how it has contributed to human progress, and the relationship between history and materials, making it an enjoyable read even for those without basic knowledge.
A fascinating historical exploration of the intersection of food, disease, machines, infrastructure, energy, and artificial intelligence!
From the compass, invented in 11th-century China and ushering in the Age of Exploration in Europe, to the antibiotic discovered by chance in blue mold that saved countless lives, to plastic, a symbol of disposable products that is now transforming the future of architecture.
A look at the past, present, and future of the substances that have accompanied humanity reveals thousands of years of history at a glance! "12 Substances That Changed World History" tells the tumultuous history of 12 substances that have transformed and evolved like chameleons to adapt to the times, advancing our lives.
Author Katsuhiro Saito has been researching chemistry for 50 years after entering Tohoku University, a prestigious Japanese university specializing in basic sciences.
Based on the idea that everything in the world is related to chemicals, we introduce 12 representative substances that have changed the history of mankind, such as starch, medicine, metal, ceramics, poison, and atomic nuclei, from a new and exciting perspective.
The story closely connects history and science with extensive knowledge, covering the process by which humans sustained life through starch, the history of liberation from disease through the invention of medicine, the revolutionary event that gave birth to the machine civilization through metal, and even the future possibilities of materials such as plastics that support modern society, the atomic nucleus that will be the energy source of the future, and magnets that will lead the era of artificial intelligence.
It focuses on how each material was discovered, how it is used in modern society, how it has contributed to human progress, and the relationship between history and materials, making it an enjoyable read even for those without basic knowledge.
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index
prolog
Chapter 1: Starch: The Energy That Continued the History of Life
The source of energy that supports life activities
The Storage of Solar Energy and the Competition for Life
The Poison Hidden in the Fuel of Life
The agricultural economy that fostered civilization
The Light and Shadow of the Green Revolution
Chapter 2: Medicine: The Substance That Freed Humanity from Disease
The role of medicine in human history
Natural medicines found in nature
An antibiotic born by chance
The emergence of a unique chemically synthesized drug
The era of immortality is coming
Chapter 3: Metal: The Leading Forces of Modern Machine Civilization
A history of humanity drawn to glitter
What Copper, Bronze, and Brass Have in Common
From Japanese swords to the Eiffel Tower, the art of iron
The Dangerous Allure of Light and Heavy Metals
A rare metal that can only be found in the ocean
Chapter 4: Ceramics: Social Infrastructure Born from Natural Rocks
The strength that has supported civilization
The Ceramic Revolution Linking Asia and Europe
Glass, from crafts to essential building materials
Concrete, the hidden protagonist of modern society
Fine ceramics, artificial materials that transcend nature
Chapter 5: Poison: A Unique Weapon Created by Human Wisdom
The identity of the substance that shortens lifespan
Hemp and Shamanism as Tools of Power
Arsenic, the synonym for assassination
Drugs and the Decline of a Nation
The never-ending war against stimulants
Chapter 6: Cellulose: The Ultimate Recording Medium Sprouted from Plants
Cellulose, which supports our food, clothing, and shelter
Lifestyles changed by plants
Cellulose, the Spark of Civilization
The beginning of a life of recording and thinking
From Papyrus to Acid Paper: The Evolution of Paper
Chapter 7: Fossil Fuels: The Driving Force Behind the Industrial Revolution and Economic Growth
The beginning of a carbon civilization
The Two Faces of Fossil Fuels
Coal, the source of modernization
Clothes, medicine, even plastic? The ever-changing nature of oil.
The Secret of Natural Gas, Used for 500 Years
The emergence of new fossil fuels
Chapter 8: Vaccines: The Heroes Who Saved Humanity from Infectious Diseases
The worst epidemic that shook history
The development of a vaccine that saved humanity
Antibiotics and Viruses: The Endless Battle
The identity of our body's superhero, the immune system
Chapter 9: Ammonia: From Chemical Fertilizer to Bomb Raw Material
Population growth and food shortages
The green revolution brought about by chemical fertilizers
Chemical explosives and colonial rule
Potassium nitrate, the fuel of war
Chapter 10 Plastic: A Universal Material Developed by Humanity
From the Iron Age to a New Era
The universal substance created by mankind
Types of Plastics and the Japanese Plastics Industry
The future that plastic will change
The dark shadow of mass consumer society
Chapter 11: Nuclear Energy: The Key to Solving Future Energy Problems
A huge energy born from hatred
The Atomic Bomb and the Hydrogen Bomb: The Beginning of Nuclear War
From weapons of darkness to the energy of light
The tragedy of nuclear accidents and radiation
A leap forward as an energy source that will take responsibility for the future
Chapter 12: Magnets: A Game Changer in High-Performance Data Technology
The Secret of the Electromagnet
Properties of magnets and rare earth elements
Dream Superconducting Magnet
The power of magnets to change the future
The Earth is a giant natural magnet
References
Chapter 1: Starch: The Energy That Continued the History of Life
The source of energy that supports life activities
The Storage of Solar Energy and the Competition for Life
The Poison Hidden in the Fuel of Life
The agricultural economy that fostered civilization
The Light and Shadow of the Green Revolution
Chapter 2: Medicine: The Substance That Freed Humanity from Disease
The role of medicine in human history
Natural medicines found in nature
An antibiotic born by chance
The emergence of a unique chemically synthesized drug
The era of immortality is coming
Chapter 3: Metal: The Leading Forces of Modern Machine Civilization
A history of humanity drawn to glitter
What Copper, Bronze, and Brass Have in Common
From Japanese swords to the Eiffel Tower, the art of iron
The Dangerous Allure of Light and Heavy Metals
A rare metal that can only be found in the ocean
Chapter 4: Ceramics: Social Infrastructure Born from Natural Rocks
The strength that has supported civilization
The Ceramic Revolution Linking Asia and Europe
Glass, from crafts to essential building materials
Concrete, the hidden protagonist of modern society
Fine ceramics, artificial materials that transcend nature
Chapter 5: Poison: A Unique Weapon Created by Human Wisdom
The identity of the substance that shortens lifespan
Hemp and Shamanism as Tools of Power
Arsenic, the synonym for assassination
Drugs and the Decline of a Nation
The never-ending war against stimulants
Chapter 6: Cellulose: The Ultimate Recording Medium Sprouted from Plants
Cellulose, which supports our food, clothing, and shelter
Lifestyles changed by plants
Cellulose, the Spark of Civilization
The beginning of a life of recording and thinking
From Papyrus to Acid Paper: The Evolution of Paper
Chapter 7: Fossil Fuels: The Driving Force Behind the Industrial Revolution and Economic Growth
The beginning of a carbon civilization
The Two Faces of Fossil Fuels
Coal, the source of modernization
Clothes, medicine, even plastic? The ever-changing nature of oil.
The Secret of Natural Gas, Used for 500 Years
The emergence of new fossil fuels
Chapter 8: Vaccines: The Heroes Who Saved Humanity from Infectious Diseases
The worst epidemic that shook history
The development of a vaccine that saved humanity
Antibiotics and Viruses: The Endless Battle
The identity of our body's superhero, the immune system
Chapter 9: Ammonia: From Chemical Fertilizer to Bomb Raw Material
Population growth and food shortages
The green revolution brought about by chemical fertilizers
Chemical explosives and colonial rule
Potassium nitrate, the fuel of war
Chapter 10 Plastic: A Universal Material Developed by Humanity
From the Iron Age to a New Era
The universal substance created by mankind
Types of Plastics and the Japanese Plastics Industry
The future that plastic will change
The dark shadow of mass consumer society
Chapter 11: Nuclear Energy: The Key to Solving Future Energy Problems
A huge energy born from hatred
The Atomic Bomb and the Hydrogen Bomb: The Beginning of Nuclear War
From weapons of darkness to the energy of light
The tragedy of nuclear accidents and radiation
A leap forward as an energy source that will take responsibility for the future
Chapter 12: Magnets: A Game Changer in High-Performance Data Technology
The Secret of the Electromagnet
Properties of magnets and rare earth elements
Dream Superconducting Magnet
The power of magnets to change the future
The Earth is a giant natural magnet
References
Into the book
Although the Earth is constantly bombarded with abundant solar energy, animals cannot directly utilize solar energy.
The only organisms that can make carbohydrates from solar energy are plants with chlorophyll.
Solar energy is transferred throughout the ecosystem through the food chain, where herbivores such as rabbits and deer eat carbohydrates produced by plants, and carnivores such as lions and wolves eat the herbivores.
So, carbohydrates are like 'canned solar energy'.
--- p.20
Why does starch transform into so many different foods? The reason lies in its structure and properties.
(Omitted) This difference in properties affects the characteristics of various foods.
Let's take rice as an example.
Glutinous rice is mostly made up of amylopectin, so it is sticky when cooked and does not harden easily when cooled.
So, when making rice cakes, glutinous rice is used.
On the other hand, non-glutinous rice contains 15-30% amylose, so when cooked, it has a chewy texture and hardens easily when cooled.
Non-glutinous rice is used for regular rice and sushi.
--- p.23~24
The origins of ceramics date back to the rocks of the Earth.
Rocks that have cooled and hardened from lava created by volcanic eruptions, or sedimentary rocks that have been metamorphosed due to pressure and geothermal heat, are also types of ceramic in a broad sense.
Humans lived in natural ceramic structures called caves (made of rocks such as limestone) to protect themselves from wind, rain, and wild animals.
After some time, he discovered that mud soaked in rain dries and hardens, and began making mud bricks.
This can be said to be the first ceramic artificially created by mankind.
When mud bricks were stacked, they became houses, and when they were reshaped, they were reborn as various tools such as bowls, jars, and dolls.
--- p.90
Alexander VI was the Italian pope from 1492 to 1503, during the height of the Renaissance.
Born into the Spanish nobility, he gained the papal throne through his strong ambitions and cunning schemes, and later gained considerable notoriety.
Alexander VI expanded the power of the Borgia family through nepotism (the practice of granting positions or benefits to family members), producing five cardinals through blood relations.
He also entrapped political opponents, confiscated their property, and terrorized the wealthy classes of Rome by spreading rumors such as "Those who interfere will be poisoned with arsenic."
The fear was so great that the wealthy, fearing poisoning, began to prefer silver cutlery.
--- p.114~115
Nitrogen fertilizers are chemically synthesized using ammonia as a raw material and are called 'chemical fertilizers'.
Chemical fertilizers have more stable ingredients than natural fertilizers, so they can efficiently supply the nutrients plants need.
By reacting ammonia obtained through the Haber-Bosch process with nitric acid or sulfuric acid, chemical fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate can be easily produced.
Nitrogen-rich fertilizers have significantly improved agricultural productivity and dramatically increased crop yields.
As a result, it was of great help in resolving the global food shortage.
This technological revolution laid the foundation for the 'Green Revolution' and was the driving force behind population growth in the 20th century.
--- p.188
Microplastics not only accumulate in the bodies of living things, but also absorb harmful substances.
If marine life ingests microplastics that have absorbed pollutants from the ocean, the pollutants become concentrated in their bodies, contaminating the entire ecosystem.
Of particular concern is the concentration of harmful substances through the food chain.
When small creatures like plankton ingest microplastics, fish eat the plankton, and we then eat the fish, and the concentration of harmful substances gradually increases throughout the food chain.
The higher up an organism is in the food chain, the greater its risk of exposure to high concentrations of hazardous substances.
--- p.212
The science of magnets developed mainly in Europe.
The foundations of electromagnetism were established during the Industrial Revolution in the mid-18th century.
In 1820, Danish physicist Hans Christian Ørsted discovered that a magnetic field exists around an electric current, laying the foundation for electromagnetism.
In 1823, William Sturgeon of England invented the electromagnet, and in 1831, Michael Faraday discovered the law of electromagnetic induction.
As a result, electric power devices such as motors and generators were developed one after another, accelerating industrialization.
The application of magnets became the driving force behind modernization.
The only organisms that can make carbohydrates from solar energy are plants with chlorophyll.
Solar energy is transferred throughout the ecosystem through the food chain, where herbivores such as rabbits and deer eat carbohydrates produced by plants, and carnivores such as lions and wolves eat the herbivores.
So, carbohydrates are like 'canned solar energy'.
--- p.20
Why does starch transform into so many different foods? The reason lies in its structure and properties.
(Omitted) This difference in properties affects the characteristics of various foods.
Let's take rice as an example.
Glutinous rice is mostly made up of amylopectin, so it is sticky when cooked and does not harden easily when cooled.
So, when making rice cakes, glutinous rice is used.
On the other hand, non-glutinous rice contains 15-30% amylose, so when cooked, it has a chewy texture and hardens easily when cooled.
Non-glutinous rice is used for regular rice and sushi.
--- p.23~24
The origins of ceramics date back to the rocks of the Earth.
Rocks that have cooled and hardened from lava created by volcanic eruptions, or sedimentary rocks that have been metamorphosed due to pressure and geothermal heat, are also types of ceramic in a broad sense.
Humans lived in natural ceramic structures called caves (made of rocks such as limestone) to protect themselves from wind, rain, and wild animals.
After some time, he discovered that mud soaked in rain dries and hardens, and began making mud bricks.
This can be said to be the first ceramic artificially created by mankind.
When mud bricks were stacked, they became houses, and when they were reshaped, they were reborn as various tools such as bowls, jars, and dolls.
--- p.90
Alexander VI was the Italian pope from 1492 to 1503, during the height of the Renaissance.
Born into the Spanish nobility, he gained the papal throne through his strong ambitions and cunning schemes, and later gained considerable notoriety.
Alexander VI expanded the power of the Borgia family through nepotism (the practice of granting positions or benefits to family members), producing five cardinals through blood relations.
He also entrapped political opponents, confiscated their property, and terrorized the wealthy classes of Rome by spreading rumors such as "Those who interfere will be poisoned with arsenic."
The fear was so great that the wealthy, fearing poisoning, began to prefer silver cutlery.
--- p.114~115
Nitrogen fertilizers are chemically synthesized using ammonia as a raw material and are called 'chemical fertilizers'.
Chemical fertilizers have more stable ingredients than natural fertilizers, so they can efficiently supply the nutrients plants need.
By reacting ammonia obtained through the Haber-Bosch process with nitric acid or sulfuric acid, chemical fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate can be easily produced.
Nitrogen-rich fertilizers have significantly improved agricultural productivity and dramatically increased crop yields.
As a result, it was of great help in resolving the global food shortage.
This technological revolution laid the foundation for the 'Green Revolution' and was the driving force behind population growth in the 20th century.
--- p.188
Microplastics not only accumulate in the bodies of living things, but also absorb harmful substances.
If marine life ingests microplastics that have absorbed pollutants from the ocean, the pollutants become concentrated in their bodies, contaminating the entire ecosystem.
Of particular concern is the concentration of harmful substances through the food chain.
When small creatures like plankton ingest microplastics, fish eat the plankton, and we then eat the fish, and the concentration of harmful substances gradually increases throughout the food chain.
The higher up an organism is in the food chain, the greater its risk of exposure to high concentrations of hazardous substances.
--- p.212
The science of magnets developed mainly in Europe.
The foundations of electromagnetism were established during the Industrial Revolution in the mid-18th century.
In 1820, Danish physicist Hans Christian Ørsted discovered that a magnetic field exists around an electric current, laying the foundation for electromagnetism.
In 1823, William Sturgeon of England invented the electromagnet, and in 1831, Michael Faraday discovered the law of electromagnetic induction.
As a result, electric power devices such as motors and generators were developed one after another, accelerating industrialization.
The application of magnets became the driving force behind modernization.
--- p.246
Publisher's Review
Every event recorded in history was influenced by 'chemical substances'!
Decisive Moments in History Unraveled Through 12 Materials
Our lives are becoming more enriched day by day thanks to advancements in smartphones, automobiles, medicine, and more.
Our current daily lives are thanks to the advancement of civilization through humanity's understanding of the properties of the materials around us and their mastery of processing technology.
Substances such as soil, stones, plants, and metals may appear natural at first glance, but they are all chemical substances.
The technology of baking clay at high temperatures to make pottery and melting minerals to extract metals has greatly changed human life.
Chemical knowledge and technology have been indispensable to human development, from processing metals to making weapons and agricultural tools to extracting plant components for use as medicine.
The author has been pursuing only chemistry for 50 years, influenced by a teacher who taught him the fun of science during his high school years.
He has written over 200 books covering all areas of chemistry, from quantum chemistry to life chemistry, to share the fun of the idea that everything in the world is related to chemistry.
This book unfolds piece by piece the crucial moments when the author became a driving force behind chemicals and dramatically changed history.
Through these 12 substances, we can glimpse the process by which humanity achieved modern abundance through countless trials and errors and great sacrifices, as well as social issues such as power struggles, war, and global warming.
If the substance that continued the history of life is 'starch',
The material that will extend the lifespan of future humans is 'ceramic'!
The book begins with a story about starch and medicine.
Starch and medicine have played an essential role in human health and survival from ancient times to the present.
Our bodies get energy from eating carbohydrate foods, and when we get sick or injured, we take medicine.
Salicylic acid (aspirin), first discovered in the late 19th century from willow tree extract, freed people from pain, and sulfa drugs, the first antibacterial drug that saved Winston Churchill from pneumonia, saved countless lives during World War II.
However, starch and medicine could not realize the dream of immortality and an ageless body that mankind has cherished.
It wasn't until centuries later that a material was discovered that could exponentially extend human lifespan: ceramics.
Ceramics have been a key support for modern social infrastructure, including art and architecture, in the form of porcelain, glass, bricks, and cement.
The role of these ceramics has expanded to include ‘bioceramics’ with high biocompatibility.
It is leading the medical field with artificial bones, artificial joints, and artificial teeth roots, and is actively working as a material to improve not only the physical lifespan but also the quality of life in the 100-year lifespan era.
By gaining a deeper understanding of how familiar materials have evolved and how they are utilized in modern society, we can develop insight into the world.
In the ancient written culture that accumulated human wisdom,
A new concept history book that encompasses everything from the future big data civilization pioneered by artificial intelligence!
Matter has greatly changed not only the history of life but also the history of civilization.
Papyrus paper, made from cellulose by the ancient Egyptians, has flourished as a writing culture and has been passing down past records to future generations for over 1,300 years.
The discovery of metal brought about a period of great change in human civilization.
Ancient Japan enjoyed a golden age of Buddhist architecture using gold, and developed its own unique ironmaking techniques, giving birth to the world-renowned Japanese sword.
Entering the 18th century, metals sparked the Industrial Revolution, heralding the beginning of machine civilization, and expanded its scope to include weapons, coins, architecture, and even modern smartphones.
Following cellulose and metal, what will be the game changer that will shape the new civilization of the future?
The author focuses on 'magnets'.
Magnets have enormous power, magnetic fields, that convert electricity into kinetic energy, which powers heating and lighting, as well as moving machines and information processing devices.
Magnetic fields were first used in ancient China to develop compasses, and are now widely used in the development of high-performance motors for electric vehicles, drones, and robots.
The performance of magnets will be directly linked to the big data processing capabilities of artificial intelligence, accelerating advancements in various fields such as autonomous driving, medical diagnosis, and new drug development.
The key to building the next generation of civilization lies in the development of strong and stable magnets.
This book will serve as a helpful guide for those who wish to study history and chemistry as a liberal arts subject, as it contains a wealth of material stories that can help us understand the past, present, and future of human history.
Decisive Moments in History Unraveled Through 12 Materials
Our lives are becoming more enriched day by day thanks to advancements in smartphones, automobiles, medicine, and more.
Our current daily lives are thanks to the advancement of civilization through humanity's understanding of the properties of the materials around us and their mastery of processing technology.
Substances such as soil, stones, plants, and metals may appear natural at first glance, but they are all chemical substances.
The technology of baking clay at high temperatures to make pottery and melting minerals to extract metals has greatly changed human life.
Chemical knowledge and technology have been indispensable to human development, from processing metals to making weapons and agricultural tools to extracting plant components for use as medicine.
The author has been pursuing only chemistry for 50 years, influenced by a teacher who taught him the fun of science during his high school years.
He has written over 200 books covering all areas of chemistry, from quantum chemistry to life chemistry, to share the fun of the idea that everything in the world is related to chemistry.
This book unfolds piece by piece the crucial moments when the author became a driving force behind chemicals and dramatically changed history.
Through these 12 substances, we can glimpse the process by which humanity achieved modern abundance through countless trials and errors and great sacrifices, as well as social issues such as power struggles, war, and global warming.
If the substance that continued the history of life is 'starch',
The material that will extend the lifespan of future humans is 'ceramic'!
The book begins with a story about starch and medicine.
Starch and medicine have played an essential role in human health and survival from ancient times to the present.
Our bodies get energy from eating carbohydrate foods, and when we get sick or injured, we take medicine.
Salicylic acid (aspirin), first discovered in the late 19th century from willow tree extract, freed people from pain, and sulfa drugs, the first antibacterial drug that saved Winston Churchill from pneumonia, saved countless lives during World War II.
However, starch and medicine could not realize the dream of immortality and an ageless body that mankind has cherished.
It wasn't until centuries later that a material was discovered that could exponentially extend human lifespan: ceramics.
Ceramics have been a key support for modern social infrastructure, including art and architecture, in the form of porcelain, glass, bricks, and cement.
The role of these ceramics has expanded to include ‘bioceramics’ with high biocompatibility.
It is leading the medical field with artificial bones, artificial joints, and artificial teeth roots, and is actively working as a material to improve not only the physical lifespan but also the quality of life in the 100-year lifespan era.
By gaining a deeper understanding of how familiar materials have evolved and how they are utilized in modern society, we can develop insight into the world.
In the ancient written culture that accumulated human wisdom,
A new concept history book that encompasses everything from the future big data civilization pioneered by artificial intelligence!
Matter has greatly changed not only the history of life but also the history of civilization.
Papyrus paper, made from cellulose by the ancient Egyptians, has flourished as a writing culture and has been passing down past records to future generations for over 1,300 years.
The discovery of metal brought about a period of great change in human civilization.
Ancient Japan enjoyed a golden age of Buddhist architecture using gold, and developed its own unique ironmaking techniques, giving birth to the world-renowned Japanese sword.
Entering the 18th century, metals sparked the Industrial Revolution, heralding the beginning of machine civilization, and expanded its scope to include weapons, coins, architecture, and even modern smartphones.
Following cellulose and metal, what will be the game changer that will shape the new civilization of the future?
The author focuses on 'magnets'.
Magnets have enormous power, magnetic fields, that convert electricity into kinetic energy, which powers heating and lighting, as well as moving machines and information processing devices.
Magnetic fields were first used in ancient China to develop compasses, and are now widely used in the development of high-performance motors for electric vehicles, drones, and robots.
The performance of magnets will be directly linked to the big data processing capabilities of artificial intelligence, accelerating advancements in various fields such as autonomous driving, medical diagnosis, and new drug development.
The key to building the next generation of civilization lies in the development of strong and stable magnets.
This book will serve as a helpful guide for those who wish to study history and chemistry as a liberal arts subject, as it contains a wealth of material stories that can help us understand the past, present, and future of human history.
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: March 27, 2025
- Page count, weight, size: 260 pages | 432g | 145*220*16mm
- ISBN13: 9791191013870
- ISBN10: 1191013871
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