Rivers of Power: How a Natural Force Raised Kingdoms, Destroyed Civilizations, and Shapes Our World

According to Smith (earth, environmental & planetary sciences, Brown Univ.; The World in 2050), a leading climate scientist, rivers have had an underappreciated influence on human affairs, receiving scant attention until they flood or dry up. To correct this view, he examines how rivers have sustained human societies since our Neolithic ancestors first began farming the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys and the Nile floodplain. In addition to the crucial role of rivers in irrigated agriculture, Smith explores their strategic use during wars, both ancient and modern; the political and legal fallout of major flood disasters; international conflicts over water; megadam projects built or proposed in the developing world; and, finally, explains how our scientific understanding of rivers is being revolutionized by big data pouring in from satellite imagery and remote-sensing technologies. Smith’s wide-ranging research gives a historical, scientific, and social perspective on the ways that rivers provide fundamental benefits to human societies around the world.