The Biography of Silk follows the path of the Silk Road to tell the story of this luxury material. From its origins in China through to its production in major medieval cities, silk has for… More →

Empires were made from the growth and sale of spices and the age of discovery was launched in pursuit of them. Exciting text and historic images explain to children how spices were used to… More →

What was the world like before sugar? Find out how the human desire for sweets made a tropical grass into a valuable commodity around the world. With the use of colorful images and maps, The… More →

How could a relaxing cup of tea become a symbol of revolution? This fascinating new book relates the thousands-year-old history of tea and its sometimes tumultuous trade. The first book on… More →

The Biography of Tobacco takes a fascinating look at a product at the center of great controversy. The addictive drug nicotine found in cigarettes keeps smokers hooked causing a variety of… More →

Fruit or vegetable? Poisonous or 'love apple'? A staple of South America, the tomato made its way to Europe through conquest and trade where it was considered poisonous for hundreds of years. More →

While chocolate steals all the glory, vanilla is the scent and flavor that people cannot seem to live without. Discover the rich history of this orchid bean used in such products as candy,… More →

Before there was bread, there was wheat. A type of grass used to make bread, wheat was one of the first plants to be cultivated by farmers. The growing of wheat as a staple food source made… More →

The history of wool is not simply the history of a product that people wear, but a history of farming, human migration, and manufacturing. This intriguing new book tells the story of one of… More →

The blacksmith was a very important craftsman in colonial times. He made items from iron that were used in the home and on the farm and also made tools used by other tradesmen. Blacksmiths… More →