Mark Bertness

Mark Bertness is an American ecologist and professor emeritus at Brown University. His book A Brief Natural History of Civilization examines how natural forces — geography, climate, disease, and ecology — have shaped the rise and fall of human civilisations throughout history. Bertness brings an ecologist's perspective to human history, offering fresh insights into why civilisations developed where they did and how environmental factors continue to shape our world. His writing makes complex ecological and historical concepts accessible to general readers. Available as an audiobook and in print, the book appeals to readers and listeners interested in environmental history, ecology, and the deep connections between nature and human societies.