Hunger in History: Food Shortage, Proverty, and Deprivation

Hunger in History represents the culmination of two years′ work in human hunger by the members of the World Hunger Program at Brown University. In bringing together original and specially commissioned articles by some of the world′s leading authorities on this topic, Amartya Sen, David Herlihy, Peter Garnsey, among others, the editors have succeeded in providing a strong cross–disciplinary base for the study of hunger. The volume, which includes 16 papers, looks at the problem of hunger from the beginnings of human society, defining and redefining the problem in ancient society and again in early modern and then contemporary society, and ends with an essay by the editors on solutions to the contemporary problem of hunger.

Part I: Introduction: . 1. Toward Understanding Hunger: Sara Millman (University of Hawaii, Hilo) and Robert W. Kates (Brown University). Part II: Hunger in Prehistoric Societies: . 2. Global Climate and the Origins of Agriculture: Robley Matthews (Brown University), Douglas Anderson, Robert S. Chen, Thompson Webb. 3. Prehistoric Patters of Hunger: Mark Nathan Cohen (SUNY, Plattsburgh). Part III: Hunger in Complex Societies: . 4. Agricultural Intensification, Urbanization and Hierarchy: Lucile F. Newman (Brown University), Alan Boegehold, David Herlihy, Robert W. Kates, Kurt Raaflaub. 5. Response to Food Crisis in the Ancient Mediterranean World: Peter Garnsey (Cambridge University). 6. War, Food Shortages and Relief Measures in Early China: Robin D. S. Yates (Dartmouth College). 7. The Classic Maya: Billie Lee Turner II (Clark University). Part IV: Hunger in the Emerging World System: . 8. Colonialism, International Trade, and the Nation State: William Crossgrave (Brown University), David Egilman, Peter Heywood, Jeanne Kasperson, Ellen Messer, Albert Wessen. 9. Nutritional Status and Mortality in Eighteenth Century Europe: John D. Post (Northeaston University). 10. Food Supply in the Swiss Canton of Bern, 1847: Christian Pfister (Universitet Bern). Part V: Hunger in the Recent Past: . 11. Organization, Information and Entitlement in the Emerging Global Food System: Sara Millman (University of Hawaii), Stanley M. Aronson, Lina M. Fruzzetti, Marida Hollos, Rose Okello, Van Whiting, Jr. 12. Hunger and Poverty in China Since 1949: Carl Riskin (City University, New York and Columbia University). 13. World Nutritional Problems: Nevin Scrimshaw (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). 14. Food Entitlement and Economic Chains: Amartya Sen (Harvard University). Part VI: Conclusion: . 15. On Ending Hunger: The Lessons of History: Sara Millman (University of Hawaii) and Robert W. Kates.

Lucile F. Newman is Professor of Community Health and Anthropology in the Division of Biology and Medicine at Brown University.

"This comprehensive book attempts to document the prevalence, causes, and consequences of hunger throughout recorded history." Food and Nutrition Bulletin