The history of humankind is the history of textiles, as old as civilization itself. Since the first thread was spun, our insatiable appetite for fabric has driven technology, economics, politics, and culture. Virginia Postrel uncovers this fascinating story, bringing together the latest research in archaeology, economic history, and the natural sciences. From the Minoans exporting wool dyed precious purple to Egypt to the Romans clad in expensive Chinese silk, the textile trade forged the transcontinental highways of the ancient world. Without the revenues of textiles, neither the Renaissance nor the Mughal Empire would have been possible; only thanks to textiles would we have banking and accounting, Michelangelo's David and the Taj Mahal. Textiles spread the alphabet and arithmetic across the world, and later, the textile industry spurred crucial chemical discoveries and taught humans how to use binary code. The Thread of History is a fascinating account of the most influential product in human history.

Fashion isn't the only reason knitwear now dominates the textile market. Industrial knitting machines, which don't have a shaft set, are much faster than weaving looms.