Promotional Information

Pliny's Natural History is an astonishingly ambitious work that ranges from astronomy to art and from geography to zoology.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Further Reading
Translator's Note
Natural HistoryPreface
The Universe and the World
Book II. Astronomy
Book III. Spain and Italy
Book IV. Europe and Britain
Book V. The Continents of Africa and Asia
Book VI. The Black Sea, India, and the Far East
Zoology
Book VII. Man
Book VIII. Land Animals
Book IX. Creatures of the Sea
Book X. Birds
Book XI. Insects
Botany
Books XII-XIII. Trees
Book XIV. Vines and Viticulture
Book XV. The Olive and Other Fruit-Trees
Book XVI. Forest Trees
Book XVIII. Agriculture
Materia Medica
Book XX. Drugs Obtained from Garden Plants
Books XI-XXII. Flowers and Herbs
Book XXIII. The Vine and the Walnut
Book XXIV. Drugs Obtained from Foreign Trees
Book XXV. The Nature of Wild Plants
Book XXVI. Diseases and Their Remedies
Book XXVII. More Plants Used in Medicine
Book XXVIII. Drugs Obtained from Man; Magic and Superstition
Book XXIX. Medicine, Doctors and Medical Practice
Book XXX. Magic
Book XXXI. Water
Book XXXII. Fish and Aquatic Creatures
Mining and Minerals
Book XXXIII. Gold and Silver
Book XXXIV. Copper and Bronze Sculpture, Tin, Lead and Iron
Book XXXV. Painting, Sculpture and Architecture
Book XXXVI. Stones, Minerals and Monuments
Book XXXVII. Precious Stones
Key to Place-Names
Index

About the Author

Gaius Plinius Secundus (23 - 79AD), better known as Pliny the Elder, studied botany and philosophy in Rome before serving in the military. He was later Porcurator in Gallia, whilst continuing to accumulate knowledge on everything from grammar to the history of the German wars. He created the first known encyclopedia.