Part III
How We Connected the World
How land and sea routes turn distant regions into networks of goods, ideas, beliefs, disease and dependency.
The reading path
Chapters in this part
- 10Who Invented Globalisation?Long before multinational companies, Eurasia and Africa were already connected by networks of merchants, ports and cities. Goods, religions, technologies and diseases travelled from node to node. 14 min read
- 11Why Could a Spice Be Worth a Fortune?Value also depends on how rare, desirable and difficult to transport a commodity is. Spices, silk and salt show why controlling a trade route can be worth almost as much as controlling a mine. 13 min read
- 12How Do You Learn to Cross an Ocean?Oceanic exploration emerged from the accumulation of knowledge from different cultures. Navigation, mathematics, cartography and shipbuilding transformed the ocean from a barrier into an enduring link. 12 min read
- 13What Happens When Two Worlds Meet?Permanent contact between the Americas and Eurasia reshuffles plants, animals, people, metals and pathogens, producing demographic and economic transformations on a planetary scale.13 min read
- 14How Can a Small Country Build an Enormous Empire?Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain show how power can spread through ports, fleets, credit, insurance and routes without directly controlling every kilometre of territory.13 min read