The Sunday Times bestseller that reveals the Earth's awesome impact on the shape of human civilizations. 'Stands comparison with Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens... A thrilling piece of Big History' Sunday Times 'A sweeping, brilliant overview of the history not only of our species but of the world' Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads When we talk about human history, we focus on great leaders, mass migration and decisive wars. But how has the Earth itself determined our destiny? How has our planet made us? As a species we are shaped by our environment. Geological forces drove our evolution in East Africa; mountainous terrain led to the development of democracy in Greece; and today voting behaviour in the United States follows the bed of an ancient sea. The human story is the story of these forces, from