The edge of the world : a cultural history of the North Sea and the transformation of Europe

Michael Pye's The Edge of the World is an epic adventure: from the Vikings to the Enlightenment, from barbaric outpost to global centre, it tells the amazing story of northern Europe's transformation by sea.'An utterly beguiling journey into the dark ages of the north sea. A complete revelation . . . Pye writes like a dream. Magnificent' Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve MapsFeatured in New York Times: 100 Notable Books of 2015This is a story of saints and spies, of fishermen and pirates, traders and marauders - and of how their wild and daring journeys across the North Sea built the world we know.When the Roman Empire retreated, northern Europe was a barbarian outpost at the very edge of everything. A thousand years later, it was the heart of global empires and the home of science, art, enlightenment and money. We owe this transformation to the tides and storms of the North Sea.The water was dangerous, but it was far easier than struggling over land; so it was the sea that brought people together. Boats carried food and raw materials, but also new ideas and information. The seafarers raided, ruined and killed, but they also settled and coupled. With them they brought new tastes and technologies - books, clothes, manners, paintings and machines.In this dazzling historical adventure, we return to a time that is largely forgotten and watch as the modern world is born. We see the spread of money and how it paved the way for science. We see how plague terrorised even the rich and transformed daily life for the poor. We watch as the climate changed and coastlines shifted, people adapted and towns flourished. We see the arrival of the first politicians, artists, lawyers: citizens. From Viking raiders to Mongol hordes, Frisian fishermen to Hanseatic hustlers, travelling as far west as America and as far east as Byzantium, we see how the life and traffic of the seas changed everything.Drawing on an astonishing Featured In New York Times: 100 Notable Books Of 2015 Michael Pye's The Edge Of The World Is An Epic Adventure: From The Vikings To The Enlightenment, From Barbaric Outpost To Global Centre, It Tells The Amazing Story Of Northern Europe's Transformation By Sea. 'an Utterly Beguiling Journey Into The Dark Ages Of The North Sea. A Complete Revelation . . . Pye Writes Like A Dream. Magnificent' Jerry Brotton, Author Of A History Of The World In Twelve Maps This Is A Story Of Saints And Spies, Of Fishermen And Pirates, Traders And Marauders - And Of How Their Wild And Daring Journeys Across The North Sea Built The World We Know. When The Roman Empire Retreated, Northern Europe Was A Barbarian Outpost At The Very Edge Of Everything. A Thousand Years Later, It Was The Heart Of Global Empires And The Home Of Science, Art, Enlightenment And Money. We Owe This Transformation To The Tides And Storms Of The North Sea. The Water Was Dangerous, But It Was Far Easier Than Struggling Over Land; So It Was The Sea That Brought People Together. Boats Carried Food And Raw Materials, But Also New Ideas And Information. The Seafarers Raided, Ruined And Killed, But They Also Settled And Coupled. With Them They Brought New Tastes And Technologies - Books, Clothes, Manners, Paintings And Machines. In This Dazzling Historical Adventure, We Return To A Time That Is Largely Forgotten And Watch As The Modern World Is Born. We See The Spread Of Money And How It Paved The Way For Science. We See How Plague Terrorised Even The Rich And Transformed Daily Life For The Poor. We Watch As The Climate Changed And Coastlines Shifted, People Adapted And Towns Flourished. We See The Arrival Of The First Politicians, Artists, Lawyers: Citizens. From Viking Raiders To Mongol Hordes, Frisian Fishermen To Hanseatic Hustlers, Travelling As Far West As America And As Far East As Byzantium, We See How The Life And Traffic Of The Seas Changed Everything. Drawing On An Astonishing Breadth Of Learning And Packed With Human Stories And Revelations, This Is The Epic Drama Of How We Came To Be Who We Are. 'a Closely-researched And Fascinating Characterisation Of The Richness Of Life And The Underestimated Interconnections Of The Peoples All Around The Medieval And Early Modern North Sea. A Real Page-turner' Chris Wickham, Author Of The Inheritance Of Rome: A History Of Europe From 400 To 1000 'elegant Writing And Extraordinary Scholarship . . . Miraculous' Hugh Aldersey-williams, Author Of Periodic Tales And Anatomies 'splendid. A Heady Mix Of Social, Economic, And Intellectual History, Written In An Engaging Style. It Offers A Counterpoint To The Many Studies Of The Mediterranean, Arguing For The Importance Of The North Sea. Exciting, Fun, And Informative' Michael Prestwich, Professor Of History, Durham University Michael Pye Has Written Eleven Previous Books, Translated Into Eleven Languages, Including Two British Bestsellers And Two New York Times Notable Books Of The Year. He Took A First And Various Prizes In Modern History At Oxford, And Was Then For Many Years A Highly Successful Journalist, Columnist And Broadcaster In London And New York. He Now Lives Between London And Rural Portugal. An epic adventure: from the Vikings to the Enlightenment, from barbaric outpost to global hub, this book tells the dazzling history of northern Europe's transformation by sea. 'Pye writes like a dream. Magnificent' Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve Maps ______________ This is a story of saints and spies, of anglers and pirates, traders and marauders - and of how their wild and daring journeys across the North Sea built the world we know. When the Roman Empire retreated, northern Europe was a barbarian outpost at the very edge of everything. A thousand years later, it was the heart of global empires and the home of science, art, enlightenment and money. We owe this transformation to the tides and storms of the North Sea. Boats carried food and raw materials, but also new ideas and information. The seafarers raided, ruined and killed, but they also settled and coupled. With them they brought new tastes and technologies - books, science, clothes, paintings and machines. Drawing on an astonishing breadth of learning and packed with human stories and revelations, this is the epic drama of how we came to be who we are. ______________ 'A closely-researched and fascinating characterisation of the richness of life and the underestimated interconnections of the peoples all around the medieval and early modern North Sea' Chris Wickham, author of The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 'Elegant writing and extraordinary scholarship . . . Miraculous' Hugh Aldersey-Williams, author of Periodic Tales and Anatomies 'Bristling, wide-ranged and big-themed . . . at its most meaningful, history involves a good deal of art and storytelling. Pye's book is full of both' Russell Shorto, New York Times 'F or anyone, like this reviewer, who is tired of medieval history as a chronicle of kings and kingdoms, knights and ladies, monks and heretics, The Edge of the World provides a welcome respite' Prof Patrick J Geary, Wall Street Journal Saints and spies, pirates and philosophers, artists and intellectuals: they all criss-crossed the grey North Sea in the so-called "dark ages," the years between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of Europe's mastery over the oceans. Now the critically acclaimed Michael Pye reveals the cultural transformation sparked by those men and women: the ideas, technology, science, law, and moral codes that helped create our modern world. This is the magnificent lost history of a thousand years. It was on the shores of the North Sea where experimental science was born, where women first had the right to choose whom they married; there was the beginning of contemporary business transactions and the advent of the printed book. In The Edge of the World , Michael Pye draws on an astounding breadth of original source material to illuminate this fascinating region during a pivotal era in world history. Tells The Story Of How Modernity Emerged On The Shores Of The North Sea, Uncovering A Lost History Of A Thousand Years Rife With Saints, Spies, Pirates, Philosophers, Artists, And Intellectuals. The Invention Of Money -- The Book Trade -- Making Enemies -- Settling -- Fashion -- Writing The Law -- Overseeing Nature -- Science And Money -- Dealers Rule -- Love And Capital -- The Plague Laws -- The City And The World. [michael Pye] Maps On Endpapers. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 329-376) And Index.