Uncover the profound link between the secularization of empires and the roots of climate change. This groundbreaking work introduces the concept of ‘fossil states,’ revealing how 19th-century colonial powers, driven by racial capitalism and a mission to achieve ‘heaven on Earth,’ simultaneously plundered nature. It offers a fresh perspective on how both religious and secular ideologies fueled ecological destruction through relentless accumulation. Essential reading for students and scholars of world history, post-colonial studies, environmental humanities, and anyone seeking to understand the deep historical underpinnings of our ecological crises.