Skip to main content
Unpositioned
Edit position
Edit position

No position recorded yet. Picking a shelf here sets the manual override.

Energy and civilization : a history / Václav Smil
Diagnose this book
Open in Vernon Browser

Energy and civilization : a history / Václav Smil

by Václav Smil

This study traces the role of energy in world history, from muscle and animal power to fossil-fuelled civilisations. It examines how energy harnessing has influenced agriculture, warfare, and industry within their physical and social contexts.

Accession 13546 ISBN 9780262035774 Publisher MIT Press
Book Images
Reference and live side by side Hover to see live images
Reference
Energy and civilization : a history / Václav Smil cover
Live
No live
No live
No live
Energy and civilization : a history / Václav Smil cover
No live
TAGS
Curated Derived
Culture Economics Emergency Management Geology History Life Sciences Materials Plants Science Social Sciences
CONNECTIONS
No connections
State
on_shelf
True
position_updated_at
never
orientation
unknown
Details

Physical

binding_type
Hard Back
dimensions
none captured
spine_text
none captured
LOCATION HISTORY
No location history available for this book.
Vernon snapshot
View live

Frozen copy of Vernon's record from the last sync. Fields tagged flow back into the Pulse record.

Last synced 2026-05-21 01:01 (3 days, 22 hours ago)

Identity

name→ title
Energy and civilization : a history / Václav Smil
vernon_id
21509
accession_no→ accession_number
13546
vernon_slug
energy-and-civilization-a-history-vaclav-smil

Drives Pulse state

curr_loc_status→ on_shelf
On Shelf
location_name
Zone N4/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/Phrontisterion/MONA
location_reason
On Shelf
isbn_issn→ isbn (when valid)
9780262035774

Descriptive

production_date
2017
object_type
Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication
object_status
Accessioned
brief_description
A comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society throughout history, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel--driven civilization.

Subjects & people

authors→ author (initial fill only)
Václav Smil
tags→ tags
Science, History, Social sciences, Civilisation, Physical sciences, Anthropology, Physics, Economics, Industries, Technology, Ethnology, Nuclear physics, Chemistry, Human behaviour, Nuclear energy, Power resources, Natural resources, Solar energy, Renewable energy sources, Thermodynamics, Plants, Organisms, Life (Biology), Energy industries, Big history, Bronze age, Woody plants, Fire, Economics -- Methodology, Hunting and gathering societies, Civilisation, Ancient, Consumption (Economics), Demand (Economic theory), Supply and demand, Coal, Fossil fuels, Fuel, Fires
subject_people
subject_objects

Cover image

vernon_cover_image_id→ cover_image
21301

Raw Vernon JSON

click to inspect

The source payload behind the snapshot above.

Use ⌘F to search once expanded.
{7 keys}
"slug": "energy-and-civilization-a-history-vaclav-smil"
"opacObjectId": "21509"
"opacCollection": {1 keys}
"opacCollectionId": "1"
"imagesCollection": {2 keys}
"images": [1 items]
"[0]": {5 keys}
"imageId": "21301"
"cssColors": [4 items]
"[0]": {9 keys}
"hex": "a0522d"
"hue": 19
"rank": 1
"presence": 20.52
"colorName": "sienna"
"lightness": 40
"colorGroup": "brown"
"saturation": 56
"formattedColorName": "sienna"
"[1]": {9 keys}
"hex": "20b2aa"
"hue": 177
"rank": 2
"presence": 23.47
"colorName": "lightseagreen"
"lightness": 41
"colorGroup": "green"
"saturation": 70
"formattedColorName": "light sea green"
"[2]": {9 keys}
"hex": "bdb76b"
"hue": 56
"rank": 3
"presence": 11.56
"colorName": "darkkhaki"
"lightness": 58
"colorGroup": "yellow"
"saturation": 38
"formattedColorName": "dark khaki"
"[3]": {9 keys}
"hex": "66cdaa"
"hue": 160
"rank": 4
"presence": 3.39
"colorName": "mediumaquamarine"
"lightness": 60
"colorGroup": "green"
"saturation": 51
"formattedColorName": "medium aquamarine"
"rawColors": [7 items]
"[0]": {6 keys}
"hex": "e1eadf"
"hue": 109
"rank": 1
"presence": 39.56
"lightness": 89
"saturation": 20
"[1]": {6 keys}
"hex": "725b42"
"hue": 31
"rank": 2
"presence": 20.52
"lightness": 35
"saturation": 26
"[2]": {6 keys}
"hex": "198978"
"hue": 170
"rank": 3
"presence": 23.47
"lightness": 31
"saturation": 69
"[3]": {6 keys}
"hex": "a5a77e"
"hue": 62
"rank": 4
"presence": 11.56
"lightness": 57
"saturation": 18
"[4]": {6 keys}
"hex": "6aa294"
"hue": 165
"rank": 5
"presence": 3.39
"lightness": 52
"saturation": 23
"[5]": {6 keys}
"hex": "7b6d5f"
"hue": 30
"rank": 6
"presence": 1.5
"lightness": 42
"saturation": 12
"[6]": {6 keys}
"hex": "44b6ac"
"hue": 174
"rank": 7
"presence": 0.0
"lightness": 49
"saturation": 45
"imageLabels": [10 items]
"[0]": {5 keys}
"count": 19411
"score": 82.18
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Font"
"imageLabelId": 12
"[1]": {5 keys}
"count": 19018
"score": 79.76
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Publication"
"imageLabelId": 23
"[2]": {5 keys}
"count": 1442
"score": 79.22
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Adaptation"
"imageLabelId": 43
"[3]": {5 keys}
"count": 1236
"score": 77.05
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Landscape"
"imageLabelId": 120
"[4]": {5 keys}
"count": 15171
"score": 76.64
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Book"
"imageLabelId": 67
"[5]": {5 keys}
"count": 11760
"score": 71.76
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Poster"
"imageLabelId": 21
"[6]": {5 keys}
"count": 5351
"score": 69.13
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Advertising"
"imageLabelId": 71
"[7]": {5 keys}
"count": 2836
"score": 65.22
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "History"
"imageLabelId": 80
"[8]": {5 keys}
"count": 272
"score": 61.68
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Soil"
"imageLabelId": 94
"[9]": {5 keys}
"count": 1094
"score": 60.36
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Tree"
"imageLabelId": 192
"imageDerivatives": [6 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/large/7595/7ffe8f36e88a1e21c662465b0710901625b66ee4.jpg"
"width": "542"
"height": "800"
"identifier": "LARGE"
"[1]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/medium/7595/7ffe8f36e88a1e21c662465b0710901625b66ee4.jpg"
"width": "271"
"height": "400"
"identifier": "MEDIUM"
"[2]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/nano/7595/7ffe8f36e88a1e21c662465b0710901625b66ee4.jpg"
"width": "24"
"height": "35"
"identifier": "NANO"
"[3]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/small/7595/7ffe8f36e88a1e21c662465b0710901625b66ee4.jpg"
"width": "102"
"height": "150"
"identifier": "SMALL"
"[4]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/tiny/7595/7ffe8f36e88a1e21c662465b0710901625b66ee4.jpg"
"width": "51"
"height": "75"
"identifier": "TINY"
"[5]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/xlarge/7595/7ffe8f36e88a1e21c662465b0710901625b66ee4.jpg"
"width": "812"
"height": "1200"
"identifier": "XLARGE"
"totalImages": 1
"objectSearchScore": 0.31199765
"opacObjectFieldSets": [40 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "accession_no"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "13546"
"[1]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "name"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Energy and civilization : a history / Václav Smil"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "title"
"value": "Energy and civilization : a history / Václav Smil"
"[2]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "other_name"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[3]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "artist_last_first"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Smil, Václav"
"[4]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_date"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "2017"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [2 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "earliest_date"
"value": "2017-01-01Z"
"[1]": {2 keys}
"key": "latest_date"
"value": "2017-12-31Z"
"[5]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_date_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[6]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "edition"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[7]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "brief_desc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "A comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society throughout history, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel--driven civilization."
"[8]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "measure_desc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[9]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "credit_line"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[10]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "curr_loc_status"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "On Shelf"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "curr_loc_status:"On Shelf""
"[11]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "ob_status"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Accessioned"
"[12]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "lender"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[13]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_owner"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[14]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_type"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[15]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_start"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[16]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_expiry"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[17]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[18]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "curr_loc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Zone N4/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/Phrontisterion/MONA"
"[19]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "object_type"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "object_type:"Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication""
"[20]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "collection"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Main Collection/Library"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "collection:"Main Collection/Library""
"[21]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Cambridge/Massachusetts/United States of America"
"[22]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_publisher"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "MIT Press"
"[23]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "physical_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [2 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "vii, 552 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm."
"[1]": {1 keys}
"value": "includes bibliographical references and index."
"[24]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "language"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "English"
"[25]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "isbn_issn"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "9780262035774"
"[26]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "user_sym_1"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "333.7909 SMI"
"[27]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "usual_loc_being"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Zone N4/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/Phrontisterion/MONA"
"[28]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_class"
"opacObjectFields": [20 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Big history/History"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Big history/History""
"[1]": {2 keys}
"value": "Energy industries/Industries/Economics/Social sciences/Civilisation"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Energy industries/Industries/Economics/Social sciences/Civilisation""
"[2]": {2 keys}
"value": "Nuclear energy/Nuclear physics/Physics/Physical sciences/Science"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Nuclear energy/Nuclear physics/Physics/Physical sciences/Science""
"[3]": {2 keys}
"value": "Renewable energy sources/Power resources/Natural resources"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Renewable energy sources/Power resources/Natural resources""
"[4]": {2 keys}
"value": "Solar energy/Renewable energy sources/Power resources/Natural resources"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Solar energy/Renewable energy sources/Power resources/Natural resources""
"[5]": {2 keys}
"value": "Power resources/Natural resources"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Power resources/Natural resources""
"[6]": {2 keys}
"value": "Civilisation, Ancient"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Civilisation, Ancient""
"[7]": {2 keys}
"value": "Bronze age/Civilisation"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Bronze age/Civilisation""
"[8]": {2 keys}
"value": "Social sciences/Civilisation"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Social sciences/Civilisation""
"[9]": {2 keys}
"value": "Economics/Social sciences/Civilisation"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Economics/Social sciences/Civilisation""
"[10]": {2 keys}
"value": "Economics -- Methodology/Social sciences/Civilisation"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Economics -- Methodology/Social sciences/Civilisation""
"[11]": {2 keys}
"value": "Human behaviour/Social sciences/Civilisation"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Human behaviour/Social sciences/Civilisation""
"[12]": {2 keys}
"value": "Thermodynamics/Physics/Physical sciences/Science"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Thermodynamics/Physics/Physical sciences/Science""
"[13]": {2 keys}
"value": "Hunting and gathering societies/Ethnology/Anthropology"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Hunting and gathering societies/Ethnology/Anthropology""
"[14]": {2 keys}
"value": "Coal/Fossil fuels/Fuel/Power resources/Natural resources"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Coal/Fossil fuels/Fuel/Power resources/Natural resources""
"[15]": {2 keys}
"value": "Woody plants/Plants/Organisms/Life (Biology)"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Woody plants/Plants/Organisms/Life (Biology)""
"[16]": {2 keys}
"value": "Fires/Fire/Chemistry/Physical sciences/Science"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Fires/Fire/Chemistry/Physical sciences/Science""
"[17]": {2 keys}
"value": "Natural resources"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Natural resources""
"[18]": {2 keys}
"value": "Technology/Science"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Technology/Science""
"[19]": {2 keys}
"value": "Consumption (Economics)/Demand (Economic theory)/Supply and demand/Economics/Social sciences/Civilisation"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Consumption (Economics)/Demand (Economic theory)/Supply and demand/Economics/Social sciences/Civilisation""
"[29]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_date"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[30]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_event"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[31]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_period"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[32]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_object"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[33]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_person"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[34]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[35]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_person"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[36]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[37]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_event"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[38]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_object"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[39]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "user_sym_9"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"relationshipsCollection": {2 keys}
"relationships": [1 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"relatedRecords": [1 items]
"[0]": {3 keys}
"slug": "vaclav-smil"
"title": "Václav Smil"
"relatedRecordId": "26452"
"relationshipId": "object_prod_pri_person"
"relatedRecordType": "person"
"totalRelatedRecords": 1
"totalRelationships": 1