Zusammenfassung
In the Dragon's Brain Perfume (a Chinese description of Camphor)
once more the existence and importance of world systems of exchange
becomes clear. In the pre-industrial world aromatic substances have
always counted among the most prominent items of long-distance trade.
The finest camphor came from Malaya, Borneo and Sumatra, but long-distance
trade took it to societies at the geographical poles of demand -
China and the medieval West already in late Antiquity (ca. 6th century
A.D.). In India it was in use at an even much earlier period. <P>The
present monograph opens with a survey of aromata generally - origins,
time and place of demand - from the Ancient Civilizations to the
Age of Discoveries. Chapter two concerns the natural history of camphor;
subsequent chapters are organized by regions (India, Western Asia,
the medieval West, South East Asia, China and Japan), with a postscript
on Origins and Diffusion. <P>Evidence is drawn from an extensive
range of sources in natural and cultural history.The work includes
15 original maps, 28 illustrations, and an extensive bibliography.
Nutzer