The harnessing of resources and the development of industry are central to the evolution of modern society. The world's great diversity of resources and industries are the subject of this book. It explores and explains the variety of industrial systems, ranging from communities that depend for their livelihood on a single resource or industry, or retain traditional handicrafts, to those that are diverse, based on high technology industries and services. The book also reviews the global state of industry, looking in detail at examples from every region of the world. Through the colorful and informative mixture of photographs, maps, and diagrams--demonstrating the wide range of industrial processes and methods--this book provides a clear understanding of the resources at industry's disposal and how these things have been harnessed.