A World History of the Seas : From Harbour to Horizon

Offering an introduction to the world's seas as a platform for global exchange and connection, Michael North offers an impressive world history of the seas over more than 3,000 years. Exploring the challenges and dangers of the oceans that humans have struggled with for centuries, he also shows the possibilities and opportunities they have provided from antiquity to the modern day. Written to demonstrate the global connectivity of the seas, but also to highlight regional maritime power during different eras, __From Harbour to Horizon__ takes sailors, merchants and migrants as the protagonists of these histories and explores how their experiences and perceptions of the seas were consolidated through trade and cultural exchange. Bringing together the various maritime historiographies of the world and underlining their unity, this book shows how the ocean has been a vital and natural space of globalization. Carrying goods, creating alliances, linking continents and conveying culture, the history of the ocean played a central role in creating our modern globalized world. Cover Contents List of Illustrations List of Maps Preface Acknowledgements Introduction Part I Bridging the Sea The beginnings: Phoenicians and Greeks Thalassocracies: Athens, Alexandria, Carthage and Rome Wheat, wine and precious stones Handbooks and travel accounts Disintegration or reintegration? Part II North Sea, Baltic Sea and Black Sea: The Vikings Trade routes Swords, jewellery and runestones Part III Red Sea, Arabian Sea, South China Sea: The Maritime Silk Road The preconditions: Winds, ships and navigation Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo: Merchants and ports The Maritime Silk Road Part IV Mediterranean: The Rise of the Maritime Republics The rise of the Maritime Republics The new trading power in the Levant The galley: A safe but costly mode of transport Emporia and networks Pirates: Robbery and ransom Part V Metropoles on the North and Baltic Seas The Hanseatic League: A powerful confederation of trading cities North Sea metropolises: Bruges, Antwerp and Amsterdam The Dutch are the ‘Carryers of the World’ Farmers, cloth-makers, entrepreneurs and artists: The Netherlandization of the Baltic region Part VI Indian Ocean: Europe meets Asia Conflict and cooperation Silver for cotton fabrics Merchant dynasties Life at sea Europe meets Asia Part VII Atlantic: Expanding horizons and exchanges Crossing the Atlantic Ocean The rivalry between the Spanish and the Portuguese Sugar, slaves and furs: The Dutch, English and French Black Atlantic Indigenous Atlantic Seamen, buccaneers and pastors Perceptions of the Atlantic Part VIII Pacific: Exploration and Encounter Encounter Sandalwood, sea cucumbers and sea otters Between Canton and California Missionaries and scientists Part IX Global Seas: From Sail to Steam and the Communication Revolution From sailing ship to steamship The communication revolution Emigration and exploitation Schooners and trawlers The battle for maritime supremacy Oceanography and a new understanding of the sea Part X Dangerous Seas: Exploitation, Pollution and the Refugee Crisis Pearl Harbor and the Bikini Atoll Flight and migration Tankers and tonnage Cruise ships and giant hotels The recognition of new oceans Exploitation and destruction Eutrophication and pollution Overfishing Conclusion Bibliography Picture Credits Index Summary:"Offering an introduction to the world's seas as a platform for global exchange and connection, Michael North offers an impressive world history of the seas over more than 3,000 years. Exploring the challenges and dangers of the oceans that humans have struggled with for centuries, he also shows the possibilities and opportunities they have provided from antiquity to the modern day. Written to demonstrate the global connectivity of the seas, but also to highlight regional maritime power during different eras, From Harbour to Horizon takes sailors, merchants and migrants as the protagonists of these histories and explores how their experiences and perceptions of the seas were consolidated through trade and cultural exchange. Bringing together the various maritime historiographies of the world and underlining their unity, this book shows how the ocean has been a vital and natural space of globalization. Carrying goods, creating alliances, linking continents and conveying culture, the history of the ocean played a central role in creating our modern globalized world."-- Provided by publisher Offering an introduction to the world's seas as a platform for global exchange and connection, Michael North offers an impressive world history of the seas over more than 3,000 years. Exploring the challenges and dangers of the oceans that humans have struggled with for centuries, he also shows the possibilities and opportunities they have provided from antiquity to the modern day. Written to demonstrate the global connectivity of the seas, but also to highlight regional maritime power during different eras, A World History of the Seas takes sailors, merchants and migrants as the protagonists of these histories and explores how their experiences and perceptions of the seas were consolidated through trade and cultural exchange. Bringing together the various maritime historiographies of the world and underlining their unity, this book shows how the ocean has been a vital and natural space of globalization. Carrying goods, creating alliances, linking continents and conveying culture, the history of the ocean played a central role in creating our modern globalized world.