Forty Thousand Years of Magic: A Global History of Witchcraft, Astrology, and Alchemy

In this book, the author tells a story of magic spanning more than 40,000 years. From the Ice Age to corners of the modern world still unknown, it crosses every continent, from the Mongolian grasslands to the Mesopotamian basin, from ancient Egypt to the grand palaces of London and Paris. Along the way, we meet priests, diviners, shamans, sorcerers, alchemists, and all manner of other figures, following them on an extraordinary journey. In the process, Gosden reveals that magic has played a far more important role in human society than most people imagine.

The triple helix of magic, religion, and science has shaped human civilization, concealing within it different ways of relating to the world. Religion connects humanity to one or more gods who rule the world. Science seeks to establish a detached relationship with the world, ultimately allowing us to observe and understand it in abstract terms. Magic, by contrast, emphasizes our kinship with other living beings, the earth, and the sky. Through magic, we can engage deeply with the world, and at its heart lies a range of ethical concerns. By examining the interwoven relationship between magic, religion, and science, we can gain a new perspective on global history.