Table of Contents

Introduction
1. The Sea in Antiquity
2. North Sea, Baltic Sea and Black Sea: The Vikings
3. Red Sea, Arabian Sea, South China Sea: The Maritime Silk Road
4. Mediterranean: The rise of the Maritime Republics
5. Metropoles on the North and Baltic Seas
6. Indian Ocean: Europe meets Asia
7. Atlantic: Expanding horizons and exchanges
8. Pacific: Exploration and Encounter
9. Global Seas: From Sail to Steam and the Communication Revolution
10. Dangerous Seas: Exploitation, Pollution and the Refugee Crisis


Conclusion
Bibliography
Index

Promotional Information

An introduction to the world’s seas as a platform for global exchanges and connections from antiquity to the modern day.

About the Author

Michael North is Professor and Chair of Modern History at the University of Greifswald, Germany. He is also an Honorary Doctor of the University of Tartu, Finland, and Visiting Professor at UC Santa Barbara, USA. His publications include Art and Commerce in the Dutch Golden Age (Yale University Press, 1997), The Expansion of Europe, 1250-1500 (Manchester University Press, 2012), and The Baltic (Harvard University Press, 2015).

Reviews

Accessible, refreshing and bold. Michael North confidently guides his readers through stormy seas and past breezy islands to discover the rich history of fisheries, exploration, migration and trade. The book offers a sweeping narrative that places the world seas at the forefront of human endeavour and cultural mediation.
*Peter Borschberg, Dept. of History, National University of Singapore & Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Dept. of History, National Cheng Kung University, Singapore and Taiwan*

In this work, Michael North has reminded us that before navigating the world’s vast oceans, there was a correspondingly prominent exploration of the seas. These smaller watery expanses served as a vital historical springboard guiding us into the “Age of Sail.” Through his astute organization, North has delivered an important book that is equally informative as it is accessible to those outside of this field.
*Rainer F. Buschmann, Professor of History, California State University Channel Islands, USA*