Natural History Volume 4

Natural History Volume 4, written by Pliny the Elder around AD 77-79, is part of a comprehensive encyclopedia that covers a vast array of ancient knowledge. This volume includes books sixteen to twenty, focusing on the natural history of forest and cultivated trees, grains, flax, garden plants, and their medicinal uses. Pliny's work is notable for its extensive compilation of information on the organic and inorganic worlds, serving as a foundational model for future encyclopedias. It provides valuable insights into the exploitation of nature by humans, particularly in Roman society.