How Four Tree Species Help to Shape Our World

Time and Space – Relationships Observed in a Book Project

Abstract

The book documents four tree species — oak, teak, rubber, and mahogany — that have profoundly shaped our cultures, economies, and present-day political maps, and continue to do so. Conversely, the tree portraits illuminate human influences, particularly the economically and politically driven forces that have been acting upon the forest for millennia. This learning paper focuses on the insights gained from the book project, since understanding the underlying cultural dynamics is a key to not only the history of trees and forests, but also to their future.