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A Short History of the World According to Sheep

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A Short History of the World According to Sheep

By: Sally Coulthard
Narrated by: Karen Cass
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About this listen

An addictively free-ranging survey of the massive impact that the domesticated ungulates of the genus Ovis have had on human history. 

From the plains of ancient Mesopotamia to the rolling hills of medieval England to the vast sheep farms of modern-day Australia, sheep have been central to the human story.  

Starting with our Neolithic ancestors' first forays into sheep-rearing nearly 10,000 years ago, these remarkable animals have fed us, clothed us, changed our diet and languages, helped us to win wars, decorated our homes and financed the conquest of large swathes of the earth. Enormous fortunes and new, society-changing industries have been made from the fleeces of sheep and cities shaped by shepherds' markets and meat trading.  

Sally Coulthard weaves the rich and fascinating story of sheep into a vivid and colourful tapestry, thickly threaded with engaging anecdotes and remarkable ovine facts, whose multiple strands reflect the deep penetration of these woolly animals into every aspect of human society and culture.

©2020 Sally Coulthard (P)2020 Head of Zeus Animals Biological Sciences Environment Outdoors & Nature Science Ancient History War Textile History

Critic reviews

"This book deserves a place in your bookcase next to Harari's Sapiens. It's every bit as fascinating and is surely destined to be just as successful." (Julian Norton)

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There’s an error (audio skips) 8 mins 15 secs into chapter 9. Very annoying as interrupts narrative. Otherwise good so far.

Reasonably interesting, but recording has a glitch

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Lots of interesting facts and stories from all over the world and through history.

Fun and Informative

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learned a lot of interesting historical details about wool and sheep. easy listening and engaged throughout

fascinating breadth of topic

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I really enjoyed this fascinating book. It covered so much, was entertainingly told and had a really good narrator too.

Fascinating and really well told

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This book was chock full of detail and facts I wouldn’t have thought I would be interested in. Recently having taken up spinning I gave this a go and was hooked completely. It made me laugh, grimace and made me think. Highly recommended.
The narration is excellent.

Amusing and informative

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