Product Description

This history relates the human consequences of the remorseless spread of the Great Desert that now stretches in almost unbroken continuity from Mauritania's Atlantic seaboard through the Middle East and Central Asia to the Great Wall of China. The author seeks to understand how the great civilizations in the original "green lands" of North Africa, Ancient Egypt, the Middle East, South Asia and China responded and changed under the pressure of invaders fleeing growing environmental degradation in the surrounding deserts. Drawing upon immmense detail, Brian Griffiths charts the effects of the expanding wasteland on human society - the very different religious beliefs that became dominant; huge shifts in the relative standing of men and women; new, more antagonistic attitudes to nature; and much more autoritarian systems of government. He describes how successive waves of refugees from the arid lands - Aryans, Huns, Mongols and many others - launched themselves on aggressive paths of migration and conquest. This book demonstrates the necessity of taking timely steps to prevent environmental pressures from putting humane institutions under irresistible strain.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1077364 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 424 pages

From the Inside Flap
The Gardens of Their Dreams is a unique and important book. It contains fascinating information about our past from an array of cultures and world regions. It verifies the connection between a history of violence and domination on the one hand, and environmental degradation and desertification on the other. It has direct implications for our time and the choices we must make if we, and the generations to come, are to have a better future.
— Riane Eisler, author of The Chalice and the Blade, Tomorrow's Children, and The Power of Partnership

Customer Reviews

Bringing deserts to life
A broad sweeping book covering the history, ecology, politics, psychology, and religion of the growing deserts of the world, and their impact on human civilizations over the past 7,000 years.

Brian Griffith’s research on The Gardens of Their Dreams was based on over 10 years living in Africa and Asia. His graphic descriptions of the climate and landscape are breathtaking. It is marvelously well researched and scholarly in its descriptions and explanations. Griffith is equally at home describing the early matrilineal cultures of China, the waves of warlord migrants out of Inner Asia, or the desert saints of North Africa.

A fascinating book, filled with insight and depth.

A very useful, positive and meaningful book
This book covers over 10,000 years of social, economic and environmental changes. It shows how our destruction of the nature has changed society over time. The stories it tells are powerful and well written. I think it's a great book for anybody who really likes history and wants a peaceful and healthy environment in the future.