Unlike the boring topic taught by an indifferent teacher at school, History is not merely a dry record of personalities, dates & events. I often find patterns and the precursors of many of today’s economic, political and cultural realities in history. The contemporary world suddenly makes sense.
It’s tough to condense 2,500 years, even in a 521-page book but Frankopan does it & keeps you turning the pages. I learnt more about (for example):
1. The spread of religions (Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam) 2. The long-lasting effects of the bubonic plague. 3. The pervasiveness of slavery (hence the name “Slav”) in Russia, Scandinavia, Central Asia, Turkey etc. Prague & Mainz were key slave trading centers. 4. The huge wealth that Venice built from slave trading 5. The Crusades partly spurred by greed & turning into a land grab 6. The Italian city states minting money by financing the crusades 7. How Europe was saved from the Mongols by the death of Ogedei, son of Genghis Khan. 8. The trump card that enabled the British to create an empire (geography). 9. The greedy & devious policies (of Britain & the US) that created the current mess in Iran.
I loved the many surprising connections & Frankopan likes to deliver the occasional shock.
Frankopan has woven religion, politics, culture, economics & geography into a compelling narrative. He’s a gifted storyteller & this is a rich & glorious read.
