Fire and Civilization

Arguing that human control of fire has been a neglected topic in 20th-century social sciences, University of Amsterdam sociologist Goudsblom here surveys the role of fire throughout a vast span of history. Though his style is bland, the author draws on disciplines from anthropology to history and ecology to offer intriguing insights. He begins with the domestication of fire, its impact on agrarianization and its place in ancient Israel, Greece and Rome--where the private fire brigade was instituted. Goudsblom also assesses the significance of fire in culture, suggesting that dread of hell-fire developed as people learned to fear fire in war and in cities. Looking at fire in the industrial age, Goudsblom notes that progress brought the safety match and better fuels as well as greater military destruction and planned, contained forest fires. A final chapter ranges from the psychological analysis of arsonists to the symbolic use of fire in public demonstrations and riots. (Mar.)