El tejido de la civilización

The history of humanity is the history of textiles, as old as civilization itself. Since the first strand was spun, the need for fabrics has served as an impetus for technology, business, politics and culture. In The Fabric of Civilization, Virginia Postrel has carried out a one-of-a-kind investigation that synthesizes archeology, culture, economics and science to build a surprising story. The textile business financed the Italian Renaissance and the Mongol Empire; He gave us double entry bookkeeping and letters of credit, and made possible the creation of such significant works as the David and the Taj Mahal. From the Minoan peoples, who exported woolen fabrics dyed a precious purple to Egypt, to the Romans who wore Chinese silk of exorbitant value, the business and production of textiles laid the foundation for the ancient world to walk the roads of the culture and economy. The search for fabrics and dyes -as was the case with spices and gold- led sailors to cross strange seas and to forge a global economy. The fabric has also been the driving force behind technological development: the origins of chemistry are found in the dyeing and finishing of fabrics. The dawn of binary code -and perhaps of all mathematics- is found in weaving. Selective breeding for fiber production gave way to the birth of agriculture. The transmission belt came from the hand of the silk producers. Just like microbiology.