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La scoperta del mondo. L'anno Mille e l'inizio della globalizzazione
Per convenzione, l'«età delle scoperte» ebbe inizio nel 1492, quando l'impresa transatlantica di Cristoforo Colombo dischiuse inedite vie commerciali che stravolsero le sorti del mondo e di tante popolazioni. Eppure merci, persone, religioni e persino microbi viaggiavano lungo rotte marittime tracciate già molti secoli prima: nell'anno Mille gli scandinavi, tra i più celebri signori del mare, avevano raggiunto le coste del Nordamerica e, secondo alcune ipotesi, si erano addentrati fino allo Yucatán ed erano stati catturati dai Maya. Contando su fonti primarie e bibliografiche sterminate, Valerie Hansen, docente di storia a Yale, sostiene che furono le esplorazioni dell'anno Mille a innescare l'avvio della globalizzazione: come i Vichinghi in cerca di legname arrivarono in Canada, così i marinai cinesi si spinsero fino in Australia e oltre le Filippine per soddisfare la brama di lumache di mare e piante aromatiche. In tutto il mondo, popoli animati dal bisogno o dall'avidità intrecciarono relazioni commerciali e fondarono empori. Seguendo i percorsi battuti da mercanti, pellegrini e viaggiatori, questo caleidoscopico giro intorno al mondo fa tappa negli imperi mesoamericani, nella Cina delle stirpi Song e Liao, nei califfati islamici dell'Asia centrale e nell'Africa delle opulente dinastie arricchite dall'estrazione aurifera, senza dimenticare i trafficati mari del Sud, dove i polinesiani identificarono Rapa Nui, Nuova Zelanda, Samoa e Hawaii ben prima di Magellano. Certo, le differenze con la globalizzazione attuale sono notevoli, ma le genti dell'anno Mille affrontarono molte delle sfide con cui abbiamo a che fare anche noi. Perciò, quando ci chiediamo se cooperare o rivaleggiare con i nostri vicini, agevolare il libero scambio o preferire misure protezionistiche, difendere le tradizioni o aprirci alla diversità, il mondo dell'XI secolo può farci intuire che l'apertura di vie globali offrì un arricchimento economico e intellettuale sia agli avventurieri sia a chi, rimasto a casa, conobbe l'alterità grazie alla circolazione di prodotti e idee, a dimostrazione che accogliere con curiosità quel che sembra insolito e distante porta a risultati condivisi e vantaggiosi.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2020
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About the author
Valerie Hansen
51 books56 followersValerie Hansen is a professor of History at Yale University.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
June 11, 2024
Autoarea a lansat o provocare, prin faptul că a demonstrat fenomenul globalizării începând cu anul 1000, fără implicarea Europei. Foarte interesantă și bine documentată lucrarea și-a propus să demonstreze faptul că și fără echipamentele moderne de astăzi oameni au să interacționeze din cele mai vechi timpuri.
April 8, 2021
This book describes the state of human civilization during the time around 1000 CE. It is the intent of this book to show that trade routes between disparate places in the world were already well established by the end of the first millennium, and that by the time Europeans began venturing out in the 1400s and 1500s they were connecting up with already established trade economies. One of the more extreme examples of distance covered by a traded good are some amber vials from the Baltic region that were found in a Chinese grave dated to this era, a distance of 4,000 miles if traveled in a straight line. An example from the Americas are products made by the Maya of the Yucatán Peninsula were found in the Ancestral Pueblo ruins of Chaco Canyon.
It's interesting to note that in the years prior to this period many of the lands located on the fringes of civilization such as the Baltic region and Russia were in the process of trying to organize into unified countries, and in order to do so they were choosing which religion to adopt. Generally, the religion of the countries with the promise of the most lucrative trade were the ones chosen. This explains why the Vikings became Christianized, the Russians became Orthodox Christians, central Asian regions became Moslem, and the Indonesian Islands became Moslem (also with Hindu influences).
One of the reasons I was interested in this book was to learn more about how the Islamic faith spread through India and on as far as Indonesia during this era. This is a segment of history I've not read much about previously. The author writes, “We live in a world shaped by the interactions of the world in the year 1000: 92 percent of today’s believers subscribe to one of the four religions that gained traction then.”
One thing I was impressed with was how pervasive slavery was in the Islamic world. Slaves came from the Slavic region, Central Asia, and Africa. The following excerpt shows that the volume of slaves from Africa nearly matched the numbers the were later transported to the New World:
For many years China was the focus of international trade in the Indian Ocean, the China Sea, and western Pacific. Of course it was the wealth of this regional trade that motivated Europeans to develop the technology of long distance ocean sailing which gave them access to this trade. In later years European ships would come to dominated world trade.
It's interesting to note that in the years prior to this period many of the lands located on the fringes of civilization such as the Baltic region and Russia were in the process of trying to organize into unified countries, and in order to do so they were choosing which religion to adopt. Generally, the religion of the countries with the promise of the most lucrative trade were the ones chosen. This explains why the Vikings became Christianized, the Russians became Orthodox Christians, central Asian regions became Moslem, and the Indonesian Islands became Moslem (also with Hindu influences).
One of the reasons I was interested in this book was to learn more about how the Islamic faith spread through India and on as far as Indonesia during this era. This is a segment of history I've not read much about previously. The author writes, “We live in a world shaped by the interactions of the world in the year 1000: 92 percent of today’s believers subscribe to one of the four religions that gained traction then.”
One thing I was impressed with was how pervasive slavery was in the Islamic world. Slaves came from the Slavic region, Central Asia, and Africa. The following excerpt shows that the volume of slaves from Africa nearly matched the numbers the were later transported to the New World:
… one recent estimate places the numbers of slaves taken from Sub-Saharan Africa between 650 and 1900 [C.E.] at 11.75 Million slightly less that the 12.5 million slaves who crossed the Atlantic between 1500 and 1850.There were some examples of slaves from Central Asia being sold to regimes in South Asia as trained soldiers. The slaves sold for higher prices as soldiers, but as expected there were also examples of slave armies who overthrew their masters. One feature of Islamic slavery was that it wasn't based on race, and consequently Islamic slavery generally didn't extend into later generations. This partly explains why a continual influx of new slaves were needed over many years.
For many years China was the focus of international trade in the Indian Ocean, the China Sea, and western Pacific. Of course it was the wealth of this regional trade that motivated Europeans to develop the technology of long distance ocean sailing which gave them access to this trade. In later years European ships would come to dominated world trade.
July 14, 2022
Just as good as I hoped. The best part of the book was the author's evident joy and delight in scholarship, her generosity to collaborators, and the fun she had traveling to visit places mentioned in her book. Bicycling around Angkor Wat! Blond Vikings and a Viking ship in Mayan murals at Chichen Itza! Whoa.
From my notes:
Cahokia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahokia, near present-day St. Louis, was the largest prehistoric city-state north of Mexico. With around 20,000 inhabitants at its peak around 1100 AD, it was about half the size of its contemporary, Chichen Itza. Strongly hierarchical polity, with some sadly familiar features: multiple mass-graves, apparently of sacrificial victims, up to 200 in one grave. Another grave contained the remains of 53 young women, ages 15-25, sacrificed to accompany a warrior chief. Such atrocities are known from as far back as history and archaeology go, worldwide. A grisly reminder....
Ancient silver coins are still being discovered in continental Europe, in buried caches that were never retrieved. These were apparently paid to Rus tribesman to provide slaves to the Islamic world, largely Slavic peoples from what is now eastern Europe. Slav is the root word for "slave" in English. The numbers weren't huge: maybe 1,000 slaves per year in the 11th century? Dwarfed by the demand for African slaves: an estimated 12 million slaves exported from sub-Saharan Africa to the Islamic world, 650-1900, which is a bit less than the 12.5 million slaves transported to the Americas, 1500-1850.
Well, this is getting depressing. I'm taking a break. But, well, it happened. Prof Hansen is a careful historian, and has done her homework.
To wrap this up on a more positive note: China was the Asian commercial superpower in this era, and its most coveted product was fine ceramics: high-fired, translucent, beautiful and easy to clean. Hence the country's English name. Other people tried hard to copy the Chinese, well, china. None succeeded until much later. Ceramics were manufactured on an industrial scale, in enormous, wood-fired "dragon" kilns that could hold 10,000 to 30,000 pieces per firing! The ceramic industry in Fujian province alone employed an estimated 375,000 people, or about 7.5% of the population of the province, around 1100-1200 AD in Song dynasty China.
My kind of book! Even if it has some uncomfortable history. Easy 5 stars. Marked for re-read down the line.
============
A good NYT review, by Christiane Bird: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/bo...
Excerpt:
"Today, we in the West tend to believe that it wasn’t until the late 1400s and 1500s, when Europeans sailed to the Americas and around the Cape of Good Hope, that the world became interconnected, and that it wasn’t until the 20th century that globalization developed. But, as Hansen shows, the Europeans were only using existing trade routes, and by the time they ventured forth, globalization, with all its pluses and minuses — cultural exchange and conflict, winners and losers, the growth of technology and the loss of tradition — was already well underway. One of the book’s surprises is its demonstration of how much life in the early 1000s resembled that in the 21st century. In those years, a citizen living in Quanzhou, China, could buy sandalwood tables from Java, ivory ornaments from Africa and amber vials from the Baltic region; attend Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist religious services; and, if well educated, read a Japanese novel or the latest writings of Islamic scholars."
From my notes:
Cahokia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahokia, near present-day St. Louis, was the largest prehistoric city-state north of Mexico. With around 20,000 inhabitants at its peak around 1100 AD, it was about half the size of its contemporary, Chichen Itza. Strongly hierarchical polity, with some sadly familiar features: multiple mass-graves, apparently of sacrificial victims, up to 200 in one grave. Another grave contained the remains of 53 young women, ages 15-25, sacrificed to accompany a warrior chief. Such atrocities are known from as far back as history and archaeology go, worldwide. A grisly reminder....
Ancient silver coins are still being discovered in continental Europe, in buried caches that were never retrieved. These were apparently paid to Rus tribesman to provide slaves to the Islamic world, largely Slavic peoples from what is now eastern Europe. Slav is the root word for "slave" in English. The numbers weren't huge: maybe 1,000 slaves per year in the 11th century? Dwarfed by the demand for African slaves: an estimated 12 million slaves exported from sub-Saharan Africa to the Islamic world, 650-1900, which is a bit less than the 12.5 million slaves transported to the Americas, 1500-1850.
Well, this is getting depressing. I'm taking a break. But, well, it happened. Prof Hansen is a careful historian, and has done her homework.
To wrap this up on a more positive note: China was the Asian commercial superpower in this era, and its most coveted product was fine ceramics: high-fired, translucent, beautiful and easy to clean. Hence the country's English name. Other people tried hard to copy the Chinese, well, china. None succeeded until much later. Ceramics were manufactured on an industrial scale, in enormous, wood-fired "dragon" kilns that could hold 10,000 to 30,000 pieces per firing! The ceramic industry in Fujian province alone employed an estimated 375,000 people, or about 7.5% of the population of the province, around 1100-1200 AD in Song dynasty China.
My kind of book! Even if it has some uncomfortable history. Easy 5 stars. Marked for re-read down the line.
============
A good NYT review, by Christiane Bird: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/bo...
Excerpt:
"Today, we in the West tend to believe that it wasn’t until the late 1400s and 1500s, when Europeans sailed to the Americas and around the Cape of Good Hope, that the world became interconnected, and that it wasn’t until the 20th century that globalization developed. But, as Hansen shows, the Europeans were only using existing trade routes, and by the time they ventured forth, globalization, with all its pluses and minuses — cultural exchange and conflict, winners and losers, the growth of technology and the loss of tradition — was already well underway. One of the book’s surprises is its demonstration of how much life in the early 1000s resembled that in the 21st century. In those years, a citizen living in Quanzhou, China, could buy sandalwood tables from Java, ivory ornaments from Africa and amber vials from the Baltic region; attend Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist religious services; and, if well educated, read a Japanese novel or the latest writings of Islamic scholars."
May 22, 2023
It is the year 1000. Nothing much is happening in Western Europe. No knights in shining armour, at least not yet. And the Renaissance of the 12th century has yet to begin. Western Europa as the world's backyard?
It seems so. According to American historian Valerie Hansen (1958) this is the year where the globalization began. It is in this period (at least by the year 1021 as this study shows) that the Vikings settle in Newfoundland. For the first time in history, all area's in the world are linked. Theoretically it became possible for an object or merchant to travel around the world.
Hansen describes in detail the trade routes between the known centers of the world. Within the America's, between the Maya and the farmer communities in what is now Illinois in the United States. Chinese merchants going to South-East Asia and the steppe nomads such as the Seldjoeks and Karachnids. And not to forget the Arabic merchants who connect Africa with India and the Arabic geographers and explorers who have left us with fantastic tales of local customs and trade goods. Valerie Hansen gives us a fascinating overview of the diplomatic relations and trade practices.
To me the choice for the year 1000 is somewhat arbitrary as most of the developments were already set in motion 200 years ago. And the Vikings, who settled in North America quickly abandoned their settlements, breaking the link between America and the rest of the world for another 500 years.
But the point is made. Her book makes it clear that the European conquests and expansion in the East and West from the sixteenth century did not create new trade routes, but that the aggressive European trading companies simply entered the sea routes that had already been opened five to six hundred years earlier. Before 1500, everything happened everywhere at once, just not in Western Europe.
Read more of my reviews here
Read in Dutch
It seems so. According to American historian Valerie Hansen (1958) this is the year where the globalization began. It is in this period (at least by the year 1021 as this study shows) that the Vikings settle in Newfoundland. For the first time in history, all area's in the world are linked. Theoretically it became possible for an object or merchant to travel around the world.
Hansen describes in detail the trade routes between the known centers of the world. Within the America's, between the Maya and the farmer communities in what is now Illinois in the United States. Chinese merchants going to South-East Asia and the steppe nomads such as the Seldjoeks and Karachnids. And not to forget the Arabic merchants who connect Africa with India and the Arabic geographers and explorers who have left us with fantastic tales of local customs and trade goods. Valerie Hansen gives us a fascinating overview of the diplomatic relations and trade practices.
To me the choice for the year 1000 is somewhat arbitrary as most of the developments were already set in motion 200 years ago. And the Vikings, who settled in North America quickly abandoned their settlements, breaking the link between America and the rest of the world for another 500 years.
But the point is made. Her book makes it clear that the European conquests and expansion in the East and West from the sixteenth century did not create new trade routes, but that the aggressive European trading companies simply entered the sea routes that had already been opened five to six hundred years earlier. Before 1500, everything happened everywhere at once, just not in Western Europe.
Read more of my reviews here
Read in Dutch
October 20, 2020
Even if you already have some awareness of global connections in the time before AD 1500, when the era of European exploration and "discovery" began, I'm pretty sure you would learn new things from this comprehensive, well-written book.
Hansen eases into her topic gently for Western readers with a careful review of a topic likely to be familiar, Viking voyages, evaluating dates and locations by using a combination of physical artifacts and oral history. Her introduction of these tools, along with detailed descriptions of means of travel (in this case boats), culture/religion, and approaches to trade, form the foundation of the remainder of the book.
It would serve no purpose for me to recount here details of her tales of the significance of the slave trade, not just across the Atlantic but in many cultures throughout Europe and Asia and Africa. You should read it yourself! I thought I knew something of the spread of religion throughout Europe and Asia, but Hansen's explanations of the various ways in which leaders wishing to expand their territories used the adoption or rejection of religions to advance their cause was new information to me.
Finally, although I had previously read of the lengthy voyages of merchant ships from India, Southeast Asia and especially China, as they ventured as far as Madagascar, Hansen's integration of details of shipbuilding and descriptions of the products traded along the routes gave me a much clearer impression of the vibrant cultures supported by these trips. And her explanation of the navigational techniques of the natives of the South Pacific gave me new respect for their accomplishments.
I listened rather than read, which may have been a disservice to the book because I would think the printed version had plenty of maps to accompany the text. But I have a pretty good sense of geography - and there was always Google Maps to fill in any gaps.
As we attempt to come to terms with a 21st century world that often seems to be spinning out of control, it was good to reflect on the integration of ideas and cultures in the past - even if it takes a long time to play out, and is subject to a certain amount of backsliding.
Hansen eases into her topic gently for Western readers with a careful review of a topic likely to be familiar, Viking voyages, evaluating dates and locations by using a combination of physical artifacts and oral history. Her introduction of these tools, along with detailed descriptions of means of travel (in this case boats), culture/religion, and approaches to trade, form the foundation of the remainder of the book.
It would serve no purpose for me to recount here details of her tales of the significance of the slave trade, not just across the Atlantic but in many cultures throughout Europe and Asia and Africa. You should read it yourself! I thought I knew something of the spread of religion throughout Europe and Asia, but Hansen's explanations of the various ways in which leaders wishing to expand their territories used the adoption or rejection of religions to advance their cause was new information to me.
Finally, although I had previously read of the lengthy voyages of merchant ships from India, Southeast Asia and especially China, as they ventured as far as Madagascar, Hansen's integration of details of shipbuilding and descriptions of the products traded along the routes gave me a much clearer impression of the vibrant cultures supported by these trips. And her explanation of the navigational techniques of the natives of the South Pacific gave me new respect for their accomplishments.
I listened rather than read, which may have been a disservice to the book because I would think the printed version had plenty of maps to accompany the text. But I have a pretty good sense of geography - and there was always Google Maps to fill in any gaps.
As we attempt to come to terms with a 21st century world that often seems to be spinning out of control, it was good to reflect on the integration of ideas and cultures in the past - even if it takes a long time to play out, and is subject to a certain amount of backsliding.
September 23, 2023
Until I read this book, had I heard anyone use the words "globalization" and "Vikings" in the same sentence, I would have thought that Minnesota's NFL team was playing in this year's London game. However, I now know that Professor Hansen considers the Viking presence in North America around the year 1000 to be the final link in the trade networks that reached around the world and established the earliest example of globalization. Extensive trade networks already existed between Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as between North and South America. Therefore, the Viking network between Europe and North America made the trade systems truly global.
Whether you accept Hansen's case may depend on your definition of globalization. My own take away from this book was the evidence provided concerning a question that has bothered me since I was in grade school, when I first learned of the Viking adventures in North America. I have always wondered why the Vikings did not explore more of North America, rather than confine their travels to Atlantic Canada. I never read anything that suggested that the Vikings wandered further south than New Jersey. Having lived in New Jersey for the better part of a decade, I understood that the Vikings would not be the last travelers to get a good look at New Jersey and wonder why they had left home, however, I had heard that the Norsemen were made of sterner stuff than the average traveler.
Hansen presents evidence of eleventh century Mayan artwork in Yucatan that shows captives with light skins and yellow hair. She surmises that these captives were Viking blown off course. I prefer to think that these were Vikings who were intentionally exploring the Western Hemisphere when they came across a society that was uninterested in their trade goods.
Whether you accept Hansen's case may depend on your definition of globalization. My own take away from this book was the evidence provided concerning a question that has bothered me since I was in grade school, when I first learned of the Viking adventures in North America. I have always wondered why the Vikings did not explore more of North America, rather than confine their travels to Atlantic Canada. I never read anything that suggested that the Vikings wandered further south than New Jersey. Having lived in New Jersey for the better part of a decade, I understood that the Vikings would not be the last travelers to get a good look at New Jersey and wonder why they had left home, however, I had heard that the Norsemen were made of sterner stuff than the average traveler.
Hansen presents evidence of eleventh century Mayan artwork in Yucatan that shows captives with light skins and yellow hair. She surmises that these captives were Viking blown off course. I prefer to think that these were Vikings who were intentionally exploring the Western Hemisphere when they came across a society that was uninterested in their trade goods.
November 25, 2022
Fascinating. Deep research book and excellently readable. Bringing medieval times nearby. Making you realize globalization occurred a 1.000 years ago.
November 20, 2022
20/11/2022 (***)
Il libro si occupa in sostanza di dare al lettore una efficace panoramica sulle rotte commerciali attive nel mondo intorno all'anno Mille (Europa propriamente detta e Mediterraneo esclusi). L'obiettivo è dimostrare che intorno a tali anni esisteva già una globalizzazione dei mercati e che merci provenienti da un capo all'altro del mondo viaggiavano fra i continenti: decisivo, in tal senso, il contributo portato dai viaggiatori norreni, che in quel periodo tentarono una breve colonizzazione dell'America settentrionale e crearono un collegamento commerciale fra il continente americano (compreso il centro e il sud America) e il blocco euro-afro-asiatico, da sempre interconnesso.
Su quest'ultimo passaggio - cioè sul presunto collegamento fra meso e sud America e resto del mondo - va detto, esistono al momento solo congetture e ipotesi e nessun reale dato archeologico: e anche ne emergessero in futuro, si parlerebbe in ogni caso di una connessione commerciale e culturale talmente sottile, temporalmente breve e marginale da non costituire comunque un fatto storico.
Il fatto storico, in tal senso, fu il viaggio di Colombo e le dirompenti conseguenze che questo ebbe. Analogamente, il viaggio di Vasco da Gama fu il singolo fatto storico che mostrò ai portoghesi la possibilità empirica di raggiungere le fonti orientali del lucrosissimo mercato delle spezie, dando loro la possibilità di prelevare i beni direttamente a monte, tagliando fuori tutti gli intermediari e i relativi passaggi. Che poi portoghesi (e spagnoli, e poi inglesi, olandesi e francesi) non fecero altro, nella loro espansione commerciale, che riutilizzare rotte commerciali locali già esistenti, anche su lunghissime distanze, mi pare una questione lapalissiana.
Che gli uomini, in ogni parte del mondo e in ogni epoca, abbiano sempre commerciato fra loro - dove le condizioni geografiche lo permettevano - per bilanciare la sempre esistita legge della domanda e dell'offerta, è ovvio. Così come affermare che esisteva da sempre un commercio, molto attivo, che andava dall'Africa alla Cina passando per Medio Oriente, Persia, India e Indonesia: era questa una tratta commerciale molto trafficata, già ben documentata nell'antichità (il problema del deficit di materie preziose, argento soprattutto, che dall'Europa prendeva la via dell'Oriente in cambio di beni finiti - seta e ceramiche soprattutto - e che saziava la sete inestinguibile di argento in Cina, data la rarità di tale metallo a quelle latitudini, esisteva già al tempo dell'Impero romano!).
Le conclusioni del libro sono pertanto lapalissiane. A fronte di questo, la lettura è piacevole e l'autrice ha il merito di illustrare al lettore - anglofono o europeo - aree e circuiti commerciali di cui lo stesso, con ogni probabilità, conosce assai poco. Particolarmente interessanti i capitoli sulla Cina, che mostrano come essa sia stata per larga parte della storia dell'umanità l'area più progredita e complessa del mondo: rimane un mistero irrisolto come mai la rivoluzione industriale - ossia il vero spartiacque fra il mondo di ieri e il mondo di oggi - sia avvenuta in Europa e non lì. Probabilmente, dice l'autrice (e su questo concordo), fu la carenza di manodopera a costringere gli europei a inventare macchine in grado di svolgere più lavoro con meno uomini, laddove in Cina - al contrario - interessava casomai ricavare le stesse quantità di beni con meno materie prime, visto che sicuramente l'Impero celeste di manodopera non difettava.
Al netto delle mie perplessità su questo filone di letteratura storica, che ha sempre presente in sottotraccia un fastidioso retropensiero che si pone l'obiettivo di sminuire la centralità della civiltà europea nella storia mondiale, e su questo libro in particolare (trovo sorprendente impostare un libro del genere senza trattare dell'Europa e del Mediterraneo coevi, lì pronti per far esplodere la rinascita economica, demografica e culturale che partirà di lì a breve e che innescherà, garantendogli la base di risorse e tecnologie, le esplorazioni oceaniche di XV e XVI secolo).
Perplessità a parte, la lettura è gradevole, ben documentata e apre a panorami culturali spesso a noi alieni, ma che meritano di essere conosciuti, integrati all'interno della storia europea coeva.
Il libro si occupa in sostanza di dare al lettore una efficace panoramica sulle rotte commerciali attive nel mondo intorno all'anno Mille (Europa propriamente detta e Mediterraneo esclusi). L'obiettivo è dimostrare che intorno a tali anni esisteva già una globalizzazione dei mercati e che merci provenienti da un capo all'altro del mondo viaggiavano fra i continenti: decisivo, in tal senso, il contributo portato dai viaggiatori norreni, che in quel periodo tentarono una breve colonizzazione dell'America settentrionale e crearono un collegamento commerciale fra il continente americano (compreso il centro e il sud America) e il blocco euro-afro-asiatico, da sempre interconnesso.
Su quest'ultimo passaggio - cioè sul presunto collegamento fra meso e sud America e resto del mondo - va detto, esistono al momento solo congetture e ipotesi e nessun reale dato archeologico: e anche ne emergessero in futuro, si parlerebbe in ogni caso di una connessione commerciale e culturale talmente sottile, temporalmente breve e marginale da non costituire comunque un fatto storico.
Il fatto storico, in tal senso, fu il viaggio di Colombo e le dirompenti conseguenze che questo ebbe. Analogamente, il viaggio di Vasco da Gama fu il singolo fatto storico che mostrò ai portoghesi la possibilità empirica di raggiungere le fonti orientali del lucrosissimo mercato delle spezie, dando loro la possibilità di prelevare i beni direttamente a monte, tagliando fuori tutti gli intermediari e i relativi passaggi. Che poi portoghesi (e spagnoli, e poi inglesi, olandesi e francesi) non fecero altro, nella loro espansione commerciale, che riutilizzare rotte commerciali locali già esistenti, anche su lunghissime distanze, mi pare una questione lapalissiana.
Che gli uomini, in ogni parte del mondo e in ogni epoca, abbiano sempre commerciato fra loro - dove le condizioni geografiche lo permettevano - per bilanciare la sempre esistita legge della domanda e dell'offerta, è ovvio. Così come affermare che esisteva da sempre un commercio, molto attivo, che andava dall'Africa alla Cina passando per Medio Oriente, Persia, India e Indonesia: era questa una tratta commerciale molto trafficata, già ben documentata nell'antichità (il problema del deficit di materie preziose, argento soprattutto, che dall'Europa prendeva la via dell'Oriente in cambio di beni finiti - seta e ceramiche soprattutto - e che saziava la sete inestinguibile di argento in Cina, data la rarità di tale metallo a quelle latitudini, esisteva già al tempo dell'Impero romano!).
Le conclusioni del libro sono pertanto lapalissiane. A fronte di questo, la lettura è piacevole e l'autrice ha il merito di illustrare al lettore - anglofono o europeo - aree e circuiti commerciali di cui lo stesso, con ogni probabilità, conosce assai poco. Particolarmente interessanti i capitoli sulla Cina, che mostrano come essa sia stata per larga parte della storia dell'umanità l'area più progredita e complessa del mondo: rimane un mistero irrisolto come mai la rivoluzione industriale - ossia il vero spartiacque fra il mondo di ieri e il mondo di oggi - sia avvenuta in Europa e non lì. Probabilmente, dice l'autrice (e su questo concordo), fu la carenza di manodopera a costringere gli europei a inventare macchine in grado di svolgere più lavoro con meno uomini, laddove in Cina - al contrario - interessava casomai ricavare le stesse quantità di beni con meno materie prime, visto che sicuramente l'Impero celeste di manodopera non difettava.
Al netto delle mie perplessità su questo filone di letteratura storica, che ha sempre presente in sottotraccia un fastidioso retropensiero che si pone l'obiettivo di sminuire la centralità della civiltà europea nella storia mondiale, e su questo libro in particolare (trovo sorprendente impostare un libro del genere senza trattare dell'Europa e del Mediterraneo coevi, lì pronti per far esplodere la rinascita economica, demografica e culturale che partirà di lì a breve e che innescherà, garantendogli la base di risorse e tecnologie, le esplorazioni oceaniche di XV e XVI secolo).
Perplessità a parte, la lettura è gradevole, ben documentata e apre a panorami culturali spesso a noi alieni, ma che meritano di essere conosciuti, integrati all'interno della storia europea coeva.
February 18, 2024
O carte bine documentată care pune cap la cap informații extrem de diverse, din domenii diferite (arheologie, istorie, literatură, analize ADN chiar), pentru a contura o imagine a lumii în jurul anului 1.000.
Argumentul autoarei este că în jurul secolelor X-XI, lumea era deja globalizată, cu rute comerciale bine definite. Europenii, la finalul secolului al XV-lea, cu supremația lor tehnologică, au profitat pur și simplu de rutele deja existente. Pentru a ilustra acest argument, Hansen se apleacă asupra contactelor dintre diferite populații și civilizații. Începe cu scandinavii care au ajuns în Islanda, Groenlanda și pe coasta de Est a Americii de Nord. Există dovezi că au existau foarte mici populații de scandinavi care s-au stabilit pentru o scurtă perioadă de timp pe coasta americană și că au intrat în contact cu nativii. Acest lucru nu întărește foarte mult argumentul autoarei că putem vorbi de o lume globalizată și că, datorită acestor contacte, mărfurile și mesajele călătoreau pe întreg globul.
Chiar dacă începe argumentația într-un mod care mi s-a părut slab (deși interesant), argumentul ei devine tot mai puternic pe măsură ce se mută spre alte zone. De exemplu, în Mesoamerica (America Centrală și parte din ceea ce azi numim SUA), există dovezi solide despre rute comerciale și contacte prelungite din considerente economice. Contacte care s-au îndreptat și înspre Sud, deși foarte puțin, călătorind mai ales tehnologia de prelucrare a metalelor (dinspre munții Anzi spre America Centrală), nu și mărfurile finite.
Apoi, autoarea se mută spre estul Europei, unde, din nou, scandinavii s-au stabilit pe un vast teritoriu, comercializând sclavi. Aici intră în discuție și religiile mari ale timpului, contactele comerciale fiind organizate prin/datorită religiilor comune, iar convertirea la o religie a unei populații se făcea foarte calculat, din considerente economice și militare.
Un alt capitol își îndreaptă atenția spre Africa, care, în ciuda distanțelor enorme, avea rute comerciale bine stabilite pentru a aproviziona lumea islamică din jurul Bagdadului și Europa de Sud (mai puțin) cu sclavi și aur și pentru importul de sare, printre altele. Ulterior, la sosirea portughezilor pe mare, în Africa de Vest, câteva secole mai târziu, se tranzacționau aceleași produse. Sursa aurului era un secret bine păzit. În decurs de câteva secole, milioane de sclavi din Africa și multe tone de aur african au ajuns în Orientul Mijlociu, principala piață de desfacere.
Zona Orientului Mijlociu și a Asiei Centrale era una foarte activă dpdv comercial. Arabii au stabilit rute comerciale în toate direcțiile, pe mare și pe uscat. Existau schimburi cu africanii, cu est-europenii, cu popoarele asiatice, cu chinezii, până în Asia de Sud Est.
Asia de Sud Est era o sursă bogată de materiale care nu se găseau în altă parte. De aici nu mai erau cumpărați sclavi, ci produse aromatice, lemn aromat sau cu proprietăți medicinale, mirodenii; se vindeau produse din ceramică. Asia de Sud Est continentală și arhipelagul indonezian erau și atunci, ca și acum, în mijlocul unor căi maritime importante și esențiale, care uneau China de India, Orientul Mijlociu și Africa. Comerțul era înfloritor. Mai ales cu China, care era o putere maritimă și care își lua mare parte din venit prin taxe vamale.
La sfârșit, după ce Hansen își argumentează poziția că în jurul anului 1.000 lumea era foarte bine interconectată (deși foarte foarte puțin cu Americile), apar niște întrebări. Cum se face că având un avantaj atât de mare pe mare, cu rute comerciale stabilite de secole, unele imperii nu au reușit să obțină supremația, iar europenii, după descoperirile din secolul al XV-lea, au reușit să se impună, să controleze rutele comerciale și să-și construiască imperii coloniale? De ce China, de exemplu, nu a avut parte de o revoluție industrială înainte de cea din Anglia?
Autoarea nu ne oferă răspunsuri. Poate din cauza că China nu avea nevoie de o revoluție industrială, beneficiind de suficientă forță de muncă locală și de prea puțină piață de desfacere în interiorul țării. Poate din cauza că pe la anul 1.000 diferența de tehnologie de luptă nu era atât de mare, ca atunci când europenii au venit cu corăbii de luptă și arme de foc, putând să cucerească ușor popoare mai puțin dezvoltate tehnologic. Poate pentru că puterile comerciale ale anului 1.000 nu aveau nevoie de mai mult. Poate chinezii nu au mers înspre Vest, prin Pacific, spre Americi, pentru că mitologia le spunea că în Vest se termină oceanul și toți care se aventurează pier. Rămânem, totuși, cu concluzia că lumea din preajma anului 1.000 era globalizată (deși nu complet) și că contactele dintre populații îndepărtate, prin comercianți, erau foarte dese și reciproc avantajoase. Deși puțini călătoreau, ei nu erau izolați... călătoreau ideile, produsele și sclavii lor.
3,4/5
Argumentul autoarei este că în jurul secolelor X-XI, lumea era deja globalizată, cu rute comerciale bine definite. Europenii, la finalul secolului al XV-lea, cu supremația lor tehnologică, au profitat pur și simplu de rutele deja existente. Pentru a ilustra acest argument, Hansen se apleacă asupra contactelor dintre diferite populații și civilizații. Începe cu scandinavii care au ajuns în Islanda, Groenlanda și pe coasta de Est a Americii de Nord. Există dovezi că au existau foarte mici populații de scandinavi care s-au stabilit pentru o scurtă perioadă de timp pe coasta americană și că au intrat în contact cu nativii. Acest lucru nu întărește foarte mult argumentul autoarei că putem vorbi de o lume globalizată și că, datorită acestor contacte, mărfurile și mesajele călătoreau pe întreg globul.
Chiar dacă începe argumentația într-un mod care mi s-a părut slab (deși interesant), argumentul ei devine tot mai puternic pe măsură ce se mută spre alte zone. De exemplu, în Mesoamerica (America Centrală și parte din ceea ce azi numim SUA), există dovezi solide despre rute comerciale și contacte prelungite din considerente economice. Contacte care s-au îndreptat și înspre Sud, deși foarte puțin, călătorind mai ales tehnologia de prelucrare a metalelor (dinspre munții Anzi spre America Centrală), nu și mărfurile finite.
Apoi, autoarea se mută spre estul Europei, unde, din nou, scandinavii s-au stabilit pe un vast teritoriu, comercializând sclavi. Aici intră în discuție și religiile mari ale timpului, contactele comerciale fiind organizate prin/datorită religiilor comune, iar convertirea la o religie a unei populații se făcea foarte calculat, din considerente economice și militare.
Un alt capitol își îndreaptă atenția spre Africa, care, în ciuda distanțelor enorme, avea rute comerciale bine stabilite pentru a aproviziona lumea islamică din jurul Bagdadului și Europa de Sud (mai puțin) cu sclavi și aur și pentru importul de sare, printre altele. Ulterior, la sosirea portughezilor pe mare, în Africa de Vest, câteva secole mai târziu, se tranzacționau aceleași produse. Sursa aurului era un secret bine păzit. În decurs de câteva secole, milioane de sclavi din Africa și multe tone de aur african au ajuns în Orientul Mijlociu, principala piață de desfacere.
Zona Orientului Mijlociu și a Asiei Centrale era una foarte activă dpdv comercial. Arabii au stabilit rute comerciale în toate direcțiile, pe mare și pe uscat. Existau schimburi cu africanii, cu est-europenii, cu popoarele asiatice, cu chinezii, până în Asia de Sud Est.
Asia de Sud Est era o sursă bogată de materiale care nu se găseau în altă parte. De aici nu mai erau cumpărați sclavi, ci produse aromatice, lemn aromat sau cu proprietăți medicinale, mirodenii; se vindeau produse din ceramică. Asia de Sud Est continentală și arhipelagul indonezian erau și atunci, ca și acum, în mijlocul unor căi maritime importante și esențiale, care uneau China de India, Orientul Mijlociu și Africa. Comerțul era înfloritor. Mai ales cu China, care era o putere maritimă și care își lua mare parte din venit prin taxe vamale.
La sfârșit, după ce Hansen își argumentează poziția că în jurul anului 1.000 lumea era foarte bine interconectată (deși foarte foarte puțin cu Americile), apar niște întrebări. Cum se face că având un avantaj atât de mare pe mare, cu rute comerciale stabilite de secole, unele imperii nu au reușit să obțină supremația, iar europenii, după descoperirile din secolul al XV-lea, au reușit să se impună, să controleze rutele comerciale și să-și construiască imperii coloniale? De ce China, de exemplu, nu a avut parte de o revoluție industrială înainte de cea din Anglia?
Autoarea nu ne oferă răspunsuri. Poate din cauza că China nu avea nevoie de o revoluție industrială, beneficiind de suficientă forță de muncă locală și de prea puțină piață de desfacere în interiorul țării. Poate din cauza că pe la anul 1.000 diferența de tehnologie de luptă nu era atât de mare, ca atunci când europenii au venit cu corăbii de luptă și arme de foc, putând să cucerească ușor popoare mai puțin dezvoltate tehnologic. Poate pentru că puterile comerciale ale anului 1.000 nu aveau nevoie de mai mult. Poate chinezii nu au mers înspre Vest, prin Pacific, spre Americi, pentru că mitologia le spunea că în Vest se termină oceanul și toți care se aventurează pier. Rămânem, totuși, cu concluzia că lumea din preajma anului 1.000 era globalizată (deși nu complet) și că contactele dintre populații îndepărtate, prin comercianți, erau foarte dese și reciproc avantajoase. Deși puțini călătoreau, ei nu erau izolați... călătoreau ideile, produsele și sclavii lor.
3,4/5
August 10, 2020
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “globalization” is not that old a word and refers to:
“The action, process, or fact of making global; esp. (in later use) the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale, widely considered to be at the expense of national identity.”
When we speak about globalization today, it is usually about international trade and the legal documents that formalize it. The concept of globalization existed centuries ago, and Valerie Hansen, scholar, writer and professor in the History Department at Yale University, writes about it in this work that is the culmination of thirty years of scholarly research. A major goal was to bring this history to everyone, and her enthusiasm is infectious and compelling.
Hansen begins her journey in modern Quanzhou, China, but writes about cities and places, whose influences are still with us today: Quanzhou, Cairo, Constantinople (today, Istanbul), and many other places. Centuries ago, these were centers of commerce, power, and highly evolved civilizations. Very much like today, the interaction between different peoples had it pros and cons, “The blazing of global pathways caused fertilization and infection, intellectual enrichment and cultural fragmentation, the spread of new technologies and the extinction of traditional crafts.” And she reminds us that, “Power came from people, animals, water and wind.” No planes, trains, cars, and still people moved about this huge planet.
She examines many factors that influenced the remarkable achievements of leaders in the year 1000, and proves this was more pivotal than 1492. Europe was a backwater in comparison to China and the Middle East, with civilizations that were replete with flaws that sometimes outweighed their accomplishments. Almost all of them were dependent on slave labor and were involved in the business of slavery, anywhere they could find it, initially first from Europe and Central Asia. Hansen takes us all over the globe, writing about people and places I have never heard of, but want to read more about, which is covered in an appendix, “Want to Learn More?”
For the most part this is not revisionist history, it is new history based on the passionate interests and thorough research of scholars all over the world, on every continent, as archaeologists unearth artifacts and documents that reveal new information. The research takes us to the places where the explorers and traders went, and there is the documentation to validate it all.
Reading history educates all of us, and it can provide reasons as to why things took place in the past, and it can give us reasons to think about the present. It can give us insights into human motivation and actions, so that we can begin to imagine different ways of doing things, perhaps even better than the past and the present.
Hansen’s other book, The Silk Road: a new history with documents, is just as fascinating and should whet a reader’s appetite to read more. The name Silk Road was a modern invention around 1877, and silk was not the main commodity.
Both of these books would be terrific for book clubs, and especially for young adult readers, who think history is dull, dry and fixed. If there were a real Indiana Jones, he would be no match for Professor Valerie Hansen.
Reviewed by Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Central Library
“The action, process, or fact of making global; esp. (in later use) the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale, widely considered to be at the expense of national identity.”
When we speak about globalization today, it is usually about international trade and the legal documents that formalize it. The concept of globalization existed centuries ago, and Valerie Hansen, scholar, writer and professor in the History Department at Yale University, writes about it in this work that is the culmination of thirty years of scholarly research. A major goal was to bring this history to everyone, and her enthusiasm is infectious and compelling.
Hansen begins her journey in modern Quanzhou, China, but writes about cities and places, whose influences are still with us today: Quanzhou, Cairo, Constantinople (today, Istanbul), and many other places. Centuries ago, these were centers of commerce, power, and highly evolved civilizations. Very much like today, the interaction between different peoples had it pros and cons, “The blazing of global pathways caused fertilization and infection, intellectual enrichment and cultural fragmentation, the spread of new technologies and the extinction of traditional crafts.” And she reminds us that, “Power came from people, animals, water and wind.” No planes, trains, cars, and still people moved about this huge planet.
She examines many factors that influenced the remarkable achievements of leaders in the year 1000, and proves this was more pivotal than 1492. Europe was a backwater in comparison to China and the Middle East, with civilizations that were replete with flaws that sometimes outweighed their accomplishments. Almost all of them were dependent on slave labor and were involved in the business of slavery, anywhere they could find it, initially first from Europe and Central Asia. Hansen takes us all over the globe, writing about people and places I have never heard of, but want to read more about, which is covered in an appendix, “Want to Learn More?”
For the most part this is not revisionist history, it is new history based on the passionate interests and thorough research of scholars all over the world, on every continent, as archaeologists unearth artifacts and documents that reveal new information. The research takes us to the places where the explorers and traders went, and there is the documentation to validate it all.
Reading history educates all of us, and it can provide reasons as to why things took place in the past, and it can give us reasons to think about the present. It can give us insights into human motivation and actions, so that we can begin to imagine different ways of doing things, perhaps even better than the past and the present.
Hansen’s other book, The Silk Road: a new history with documents, is just as fascinating and should whet a reader’s appetite to read more. The name Silk Road was a modern invention around 1877, and silk was not the main commodity.
Both of these books would be terrific for book clubs, and especially for young adult readers, who think history is dull, dry and fixed. If there were a real Indiana Jones, he would be no match for Professor Valerie Hansen.
Reviewed by Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Central Library
April 4, 2020
The Year 1000 by Valerie Hansen is an engagingly informative look at, well, the year 1000 (though Hansen move forwards and backwards from that date for context. Hansen argues that the trading relationships (and routes) created around this time were the first form of globalization, paving the path to our current world.
A non-exhaustive list of cultures Hansen covers includes the Vikings (particularly their travel to North America), Mesoamerica (such as the Mayan trade with Southwestern US cultures at Chaco), Scandanavian travels east where they were known as the Rus, connections between China, Japan, India, Korea, and more.
While Hansen points to some of the similarities beween our world and the one covered in the book, she also makes the important distinction that during this time when civilization met for the first time, their level of technological/military technology was pretty equal, unlike for example when the Europeans met Native Americans several centuries later.
While Hansen covers the well-known, she also introduces several less known cultures, and some that were wholly unfamiliar to me. I’m no historian, but I do read a lot of popular history, so that was a welcome bit for freshness. The same is true for some of the trade relations and items. Furs and gold, spices and amber were well known to me, but some of the “aromatics” were less well known.
Hansen’s style is always clean, lucid, and engaging. Despite covering a lot of ground (literally) and throwing a lot of regions, cultures, names at the reader, she keeps her audience well grounded in time and place and theme. An excellent popular history book.
A non-exhaustive list of cultures Hansen covers includes the Vikings (particularly their travel to North America), Mesoamerica (such as the Mayan trade with Southwestern US cultures at Chaco), Scandanavian travels east where they were known as the Rus, connections between China, Japan, India, Korea, and more.
While Hansen points to some of the similarities beween our world and the one covered in the book, she also makes the important distinction that during this time when civilization met for the first time, their level of technological/military technology was pretty equal, unlike for example when the Europeans met Native Americans several centuries later.
While Hansen covers the well-known, she also introduces several less known cultures, and some that were wholly unfamiliar to me. I’m no historian, but I do read a lot of popular history, so that was a welcome bit for freshness. The same is true for some of the trade relations and items. Furs and gold, spices and amber were well known to me, but some of the “aromatics” were less well known.
Hansen’s style is always clean, lucid, and engaging. Despite covering a lot of ground (literally) and throwing a lot of regions, cultures, names at the reader, she keeps her audience well grounded in time and place and theme. An excellent popular history book.
November 9, 2021
So I randomly bought this book when I was browing a bookstore one time because the cover drew me in and the title was also something that jumped out at me. It was kind of a sponaneous buy for me. And I decided to save it for this year's Nonfiction November. I'm very glad I did so because it was a perfect nonfiction to dive into. Sometimes you just connect with a book, whether it's fiction or nonfiction and I really did connect with this one. It was so good!
The author, Valerie Hansen is a professor of History at Yale University so obviously she really knows her stuff and this really shows in the book. It's very well-researched as a book about history should be. There are also some amazing photographs of artifacts included in the book which I always love because you can actually look at some of the things mentioned in the book. I especially enjoyed taking a look at the blond men on the Chichen Itza murals, which may or may not be actual vikings. It gives a lot of food for thought, that's for sure.
I loved all of the chapters and even wished some were a little longer like the chapter about the vikings. I haven't read much about vikings in general but I'm even more interested in them after reading this book. As far as early exploration goes, they were some of the greatest. It was probably my favorite chapter out of them all, even though they were all really great to read. Consider me now a viking fan!
The Year 1000: When Explorers Connected the World – and Globalization Began was as fascinating as I hoped it would be. It was super engaging and written in an easy-to-read way. In short: it was quite the page-turner. I would love to read more of Valerie Hansen's work.
The author, Valerie Hansen is a professor of History at Yale University so obviously she really knows her stuff and this really shows in the book. It's very well-researched as a book about history should be. There are also some amazing photographs of artifacts included in the book which I always love because you can actually look at some of the things mentioned in the book. I especially enjoyed taking a look at the blond men on the Chichen Itza murals, which may or may not be actual vikings. It gives a lot of food for thought, that's for sure.
I loved all of the chapters and even wished some were a little longer like the chapter about the vikings. I haven't read much about vikings in general but I'm even more interested in them after reading this book. As far as early exploration goes, they were some of the greatest. It was probably my favorite chapter out of them all, even though they were all really great to read. Consider me now a viking fan!
The Year 1000: When Explorers Connected the World – and Globalization Began was as fascinating as I hoped it would be. It was super engaging and written in an easy-to-read way. In short: it was quite the page-turner. I would love to read more of Valerie Hansen's work.
April 2, 2024
De grootste fout die de mensheid ooit heeft gemaakt? Hoewel er heel wat te zeggen valt voor de industriële revolutie van Kaczynski, ben ik van mening dat onze grootste zonde al lang daarvoor begon. Na het lezen van dit boek kan men niet anders dan tot de conclusie komen dat het kolonialisme een misstap is die onze wereld voorgoed nadelig heeft getransformeerd. Het kolonialisme waarvan wij op school altijd hebben geleerd hoe geweldig het was. Wij Europeanen hebben de rest van de wereld even laten zien wat beschaving is. Wij hebben de heidense Indianenstammen tot vrome christenen gemaakt. Wij mogen trots zijn op dat Columbus toen Amerika had 'ontdekt'. Dat er al duizenden jaren Indianenstammen leefden wordt dan even buiten beschouwing gelaten.
Hoewel alles wat op school wordt onderwezen propaganda van de overheid is, is dit het toppunt. Is onze geweldige samenleving met recordhoge zelfmoordcijfers en een Tiktokverslaving werkelijk beter dan een vreedzame Indianensamenleving? Wereldoorlogen, milieuproblematiek; allemaal is het terug te leiden tot het beschavingsoffensief gelanceerd door westerse landen rond 1500. Denkt u eens terug aan de massasterfte onder de Indianen toen wij ze forceerden voor ons als slaaf te werken. En zelfs toen bleven wij, gedreven door onze hebzucht, slaven uit andere landen exporteren. Maar ook nu nog, in onze bijna perfecte samenleving is slavernij alomtegenwoordig. Neem bijvoorbeeld de vele sloebers in Bangladesh die voor een hongerloontje onze kleding in elkaar zetten. Bedenk dan eens dat dit allemaal voorkomen had kunnen worden als wij 500 jaar geleden een iets andere gedachtegang hadden gehad.
Nu nog een heel ander onderwerp waarover mijn mening is veranderd tijdens het lezen van dit boek: de beste staatsvorm. In tegenstelling tot wat wij Europeanen van nature doen, vasthouden aan het bekende, stel ik voor te leren van onze meerderen. Dat waren ze in het jaar 1000, nu en op de negentiende eeuw na eigenlijk altijd. Ik heb het natuurlijk over het fascinerende land China. Nu is dit een controversieel onderwerp; ik weet zelf ook niet of ik nou ontzag of afgunst moet hebben voor deze grootmacht. Aan de ene kant is genocide genormaliseerd, wordt geen enkele vorm van kritiek op het regiem getolereerd en wordt de bevolking constant in de gaten gehouden en overspoeld met propaganda, waarvan het laatste overigens ook op veel Nederlandse overheidsinstanties voorkomt (geen specifieke school in gedachte). Aan de andere kant is het bestuur daadkrachtig en durft beslissingen te nemen. Ook de duizenden jaren oude adembenemende cultuur van China is iets waar wij Europeanen alleen maar van kunnen dromen.
Feit is dat China ons vroeg of laat gaat inhalen. De enige manier om dit te voorkomen is het ingrediënt van hun succes overnemen: de politieke besluitvorming. De leek zou denken dat ik dan op een dictatuur doel, maar in werkelijkheid is China altijd door een selecte groep keizerlijke raadgevers, de Mandarijnen, bestuurd die jarenlang hadden gestudeerd om zo'n hoge functie te mogen bekleden. De keizer was slechts een marionet om het volk tevreden te houden. Het domme volk heeft namelijk één iemand nodig om te aanbidden, niet tien. Ook nu nog wordt China niet door één, maar door zeven mannen bestuurd. Een staat waar de onwetende massa geleid wordt door een kleine groep hogeropgeleiden, een zogeheten oligarchie, lijkt mij de enige oplossing voor de hedendaagse problematiek.
Na het lezen over de vele fascinerende culturen die zich rond het jaar 1000 nog op de wereld bevonden en die inmiddels zijn vervangen voor de McDonald's-cultuur, is het mij duidelijk geworden wat voor een prachtige, fascinerende plek deze wereld ooit moet zijn geweest. Dit boek is absoluut een aanrader voor iedereen die zich wil verdiepen in de menselijke geschiedenis. Niet omdat we leren van onze fouten, de mens is nu eenmaal gedoemd eigenwijs en standvastig door te gaan met wat vertrouwd voelt, maar gewoon omdat het leuk is.
Hoewel alles wat op school wordt onderwezen propaganda van de overheid is, is dit het toppunt. Is onze geweldige samenleving met recordhoge zelfmoordcijfers en een Tiktokverslaving werkelijk beter dan een vreedzame Indianensamenleving? Wereldoorlogen, milieuproblematiek; allemaal is het terug te leiden tot het beschavingsoffensief gelanceerd door westerse landen rond 1500. Denkt u eens terug aan de massasterfte onder de Indianen toen wij ze forceerden voor ons als slaaf te werken. En zelfs toen bleven wij, gedreven door onze hebzucht, slaven uit andere landen exporteren. Maar ook nu nog, in onze bijna perfecte samenleving is slavernij alomtegenwoordig. Neem bijvoorbeeld de vele sloebers in Bangladesh die voor een hongerloontje onze kleding in elkaar zetten. Bedenk dan eens dat dit allemaal voorkomen had kunnen worden als wij 500 jaar geleden een iets andere gedachtegang hadden gehad.
Nu nog een heel ander onderwerp waarover mijn mening is veranderd tijdens het lezen van dit boek: de beste staatsvorm. In tegenstelling tot wat wij Europeanen van nature doen, vasthouden aan het bekende, stel ik voor te leren van onze meerderen. Dat waren ze in het jaar 1000, nu en op de negentiende eeuw na eigenlijk altijd. Ik heb het natuurlijk over het fascinerende land China. Nu is dit een controversieel onderwerp; ik weet zelf ook niet of ik nou ontzag of afgunst moet hebben voor deze grootmacht. Aan de ene kant is genocide genormaliseerd, wordt geen enkele vorm van kritiek op het regiem getolereerd en wordt de bevolking constant in de gaten gehouden en overspoeld met propaganda, waarvan het laatste overigens ook op veel Nederlandse overheidsinstanties voorkomt (geen specifieke school in gedachte). Aan de andere kant is het bestuur daadkrachtig en durft beslissingen te nemen. Ook de duizenden jaren oude adembenemende cultuur van China is iets waar wij Europeanen alleen maar van kunnen dromen.
Feit is dat China ons vroeg of laat gaat inhalen. De enige manier om dit te voorkomen is het ingrediënt van hun succes overnemen: de politieke besluitvorming. De leek zou denken dat ik dan op een dictatuur doel, maar in werkelijkheid is China altijd door een selecte groep keizerlijke raadgevers, de Mandarijnen, bestuurd die jarenlang hadden gestudeerd om zo'n hoge functie te mogen bekleden. De keizer was slechts een marionet om het volk tevreden te houden. Het domme volk heeft namelijk één iemand nodig om te aanbidden, niet tien. Ook nu nog wordt China niet door één, maar door zeven mannen bestuurd. Een staat waar de onwetende massa geleid wordt door een kleine groep hogeropgeleiden, een zogeheten oligarchie, lijkt mij de enige oplossing voor de hedendaagse problematiek.
Na het lezen over de vele fascinerende culturen die zich rond het jaar 1000 nog op de wereld bevonden en die inmiddels zijn vervangen voor de McDonald's-cultuur, is het mij duidelijk geworden wat voor een prachtige, fascinerende plek deze wereld ooit moet zijn geweest. Dit boek is absoluut een aanrader voor iedereen die zich wil verdiepen in de menselijke geschiedenis. Niet omdat we leren van onze fouten, de mens is nu eenmaal gedoemd eigenwijs en standvastig door te gaan met wat vertrouwd voelt, maar gewoon omdat het leuk is.
April 20, 2024
Het boek gaat, ongeacht zijn titel, bijna nooit over het jaar 1000/9-10e eeuw zelf maar focust op de bredere tijdsperiode van pakweg 800 tot 1500. Logisch moet dingen verklaar werden vanuit een breed perspectief maar vaak lag het zwaartepunt elders. Daarnaast lag de focus sterk op globalisering waardoor er een grote focus was op macrohistorie en handel. Op zich wel boeiend als je de verschillende lijsten aan producten wegdenkt. Details waren er soms te veel aan, hoewel ik het feit dat het een van de Vikingstamhoofden ‘Snorri’ heette, wel zeer aandoenlijk.
February 9, 2024
The audio version is great; however, the material is so dense and detailed that, perhaps, it's not ideal as an audiobook. I intend to revisit this book someday in the future, maybe as physical media, maybe as an audiobook re-listen.
April 23, 2020
I learned a lot of surprising things from this book.
The first was how wealthy and powerful Constantinople and the Islamic world were in the year 1000. In archaeology digs across Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, an estimated 400,000 Islamic coins from the tenth century have been found. Apparently the Islamic world purchased tons of slaves and furs from Eastern Europe -- in fact, the word "slave" comes from the word "Slav" for this very reason.
Another thing that started around the year 1000 was tax collection. For the first time, plundering chieftains were replaced with tax-collecting monarchies. And Hansen describes the pros and cons of taxing commerce versus taxing land, something I had never thought about. It was interesting to read about the beginning of large monarchies and how they formed.
The Vikings chapter was also fascinating. Who knew there was such strong evidence that the Vikings arrived in Central America long before Columbus, or that African ships gone off course had also arrived in America before 1492?
Highly recommend!
The first was how wealthy and powerful Constantinople and the Islamic world were in the year 1000. In archaeology digs across Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, an estimated 400,000 Islamic coins from the tenth century have been found. Apparently the Islamic world purchased tons of slaves and furs from Eastern Europe -- in fact, the word "slave" comes from the word "Slav" for this very reason.
Another thing that started around the year 1000 was tax collection. For the first time, plundering chieftains were replaced with tax-collecting monarchies. And Hansen describes the pros and cons of taxing commerce versus taxing land, something I had never thought about. It was interesting to read about the beginning of large monarchies and how they formed.
The Vikings chapter was also fascinating. Who knew there was such strong evidence that the Vikings arrived in Central America long before Columbus, or that African ships gone off course had also arrived in America before 1492?
Highly recommend!
March 21, 2021
This book does away with the very eurocentric idea that globalisation began when Columbus "discovered" America, or with industrialisation, or wherever around this time you would like to pinpoint it.
Actually, the connection of trade and contact routes already stretched around the globe with the Vikings travelling to North America, with the Silk Road and other trade routes in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, with Polynesians spreading out in the Pacific. China was already a globalised trade centre long before the Portuguese spread out and tapped those existing markets.
A well-researched and captivating read that definitely taught me many things about how to view the world, and world history.
Actually, the connection of trade and contact routes already stretched around the globe with the Vikings travelling to North America, with the Silk Road and other trade routes in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, with Polynesians spreading out in the Pacific. China was already a globalised trade centre long before the Portuguese spread out and tapped those existing markets.
A well-researched and captivating read that definitely taught me many things about how to view the world, and world history.
June 6, 2020
Interesting subject. But, I found the book lacking. Mostly I found the author presenting information, rather than telling a story. Hence, I found the book generally as exciting as a text book.
September 12, 2021
I wavered between three and four stars here. I feel like the concept is a good corrective to the general idea many textbooks convey that world trade and interaction started with the period of European expansion in the sixteenth centuries and following. However, Hansen’s choice of a single year to prove her point seems cumbersome. Some of the material seemed only very tangentially related to her chosen date. Lots of interesting tidbits of information but the lever all argument would have been easier to prove without the gimmick of a single year.
May 23, 2024
This book was perfect for me.
It gives an overview of the world as it was in the year 1000, with a focus on trade and interactions between civilizations. I derive the same sort of enjoyment from playing Sid Meier’s Civilization.
It gives an overview of the world as it was in the year 1000, with a focus on trade and interactions between civilizations. I derive the same sort of enjoyment from playing Sid Meier’s Civilization.
May 26, 2025
The title says it all. This sat on my bookshelf for a long time because I thought it might be dry or pedantic . The references to all the trading tribes, provinces and cities &countries sometimes left me confused but the author’s knowledge and writing style never failed to entertain. If you like ancient history you will most likely enjoy this
June 16, 2024
Bij de middeleeuwen denk ik vaak aan Karel (de Grote), Elegast, Antwerpen, Hadewijch en andere namen en plaatsen. Maar de wereld was, ook in de middeleeuwen, natuurlijk veel groter dan Europa.
Interessant boek over de wereld rond het jaar duizend.
Interessant boek over de wereld rond het jaar duizend.
August 27, 2024
相當精彩的世界史。公元一千年之際，全球各地的社會開發與不同人群間彼此的交往。
May 20, 2020
Most historians date the emergence of globalization to the Columbian Exchange, the transfer across the Atlantic of goods, mineral resources, edible plants, slaves, and contagious diseases that began shortly after Christopher Columbus “discovered” the New World. Yale history professor Valerie Hansen begs to differ.
In The Year 1000, Hansen presents a detailed case for backdating globalization to the global upsurge in trade and religious conversions around the end of the first millennium. Her case rests largely on archaeological and documentary evidence of the robust trade in goods that accelerated around the year 1000. It’s a provocative argument, but a little strained. (Others report observing the emergence of globalization centuries before the Common Era—with even less justification.)
Arguing that globalization began with the Vikings in North America
Hansen’s argument rests in part on the evidence of the short-lived Norse settlements along the far northeastern coast of North America beginning in 1000. That the evidence exists is not in dispute. However, because the Norse stayed in the region only a few years and established no lasting ties with the Amerindians who lived there, it’s a stretch to argue that they inaugurated anything like the Columbian Exchange. Globalization is a global phenomenon that required the integration of the New World with the Old. And that took place only in the sixteenth century, not the eleventh.
Archaeological finds and documentary evidence
Still, Hansen makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the past by highlighting to a greater extent than I’ve found elsewhere the impressive scope of international trade in the closing years of the first millennium and the early years of the second. Citing archaeological finds and the less abundant documentary evidence, she points to the trade routes that linked the peoples of Mesoamerica with those of the present-day United States. Similarly, she points to the robust exchange of goods among the Andean peoples and those of the Amazon region.
Robust Asia trade almost convinces that globalization began then
However, the most extensive trade relations around the year 1000 involved China, India, and the peoples of East Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast and East Asia. Hansen convincingly makes the case that the region we might now describe as that of the Indian Ocean and the China Seas was, in fact, integrated to a degree that affected the daily lives of millions who lived in states along those shores. It’s a colorful story worthy of Marco Polo himself. And it almost convinces that globalization began then.
The West was not a significant factor
Westerners may today be less ready to recognize this story because, at the time, Europe was a backwater. There was interaction between the nascent states of France, Germany, Italy, and Russia, on the one hand, and those of the wealthier and much more advanced societies of the Middle East and Central Asia. But that interaction was limited. The Norse notwithstanding, Europe was not a significant factor in what passed for globalization in the year 1000. If globalization began then, it didn’t involve people who spoke Germanic or Romance languages.
In The Year 1000, Hansen presents a detailed case for backdating globalization to the global upsurge in trade and religious conversions around the end of the first millennium. Her case rests largely on archaeological and documentary evidence of the robust trade in goods that accelerated around the year 1000. It’s a provocative argument, but a little strained. (Others report observing the emergence of globalization centuries before the Common Era—with even less justification.)
Arguing that globalization began with the Vikings in North America
Hansen’s argument rests in part on the evidence of the short-lived Norse settlements along the far northeastern coast of North America beginning in 1000. That the evidence exists is not in dispute. However, because the Norse stayed in the region only a few years and established no lasting ties with the Amerindians who lived there, it’s a stretch to argue that they inaugurated anything like the Columbian Exchange. Globalization is a global phenomenon that required the integration of the New World with the Old. And that took place only in the sixteenth century, not the eleventh.
Archaeological finds and documentary evidence
Still, Hansen makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the past by highlighting to a greater extent than I’ve found elsewhere the impressive scope of international trade in the closing years of the first millennium and the early years of the second. Citing archaeological finds and the less abundant documentary evidence, she points to the trade routes that linked the peoples of Mesoamerica with those of the present-day United States. Similarly, she points to the robust exchange of goods among the Andean peoples and those of the Amazon region.
Robust Asia trade almost convinces that globalization began then
However, the most extensive trade relations around the year 1000 involved China, India, and the peoples of East Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast and East Asia. Hansen convincingly makes the case that the region we might now describe as that of the Indian Ocean and the China Seas was, in fact, integrated to a degree that affected the daily lives of millions who lived in states along those shores. It’s a colorful story worthy of Marco Polo himself. And it almost convinces that globalization began then.
The West was not a significant factor
Westerners may today be less ready to recognize this story because, at the time, Europe was a backwater. There was interaction between the nascent states of France, Germany, Italy, and Russia, on the one hand, and those of the wealthier and much more advanced societies of the Middle East and Central Asia. But that interaction was limited. The Norse notwithstanding, Europe was not a significant factor in what passed for globalization in the year 1000. If globalization began then, it didn’t involve people who spoke Germanic or Romance languages.
October 12, 2021
Hmm, great Chinese word problem, fascinating to see people, very rich people but still, expected to be identified by a unique personal perfume, and interesting to see how such an educated society ended up closing itself off. Just when more aggressive people with little sophistication and less empathy begin to use the very tools of the most advanced society to take market share away.
What bothered me was the frequent comparison of slavery in Asia, with the transatlantic slave trade, and the inference that there was not really much difference. The frequent noting that slavery was something that has always existed in human society. There was never anything about how viciously the transatlantic slave trade turned skin color into the only marker of slavery, and build a society upon which racism was the foundation and the lasting systemic basis. This didn't happen anywhere else in the world because slaves had always been of various colors and from different areas. But in the United States, thanks to the transatlantic slave trade, any person who was not white was expected to be a slave. And then looked down upon. Where as earlier in history, slaves had been artisans, tutors, teachers, or even soldiers, this was reduced to zero in the United States. Slaves, always considered negro, were considered inferior, not allowed to be educated, never allowed to touch a weapon, and not generally encouraged to learn master trades (yes, SC was an exception, and some plantations), because that was reserved in preference for the lower class white men. Never in history has a society been built upon racial background and slavery encased in that. That is the difference. She does not mention this. But the accomplishments of China up until it closed immediately after admiral Zheng He's voyages are very impressive. One still wonders why China closed right at the moment that the Portuguese were beginning to build European Empires and such a vastly racist way. Maybe the world would be a very different place and that not happened.
What bothered me was the frequent comparison of slavery in Asia, with the transatlantic slave trade, and the inference that there was not really much difference. The frequent noting that slavery was something that has always existed in human society. There was never anything about how viciously the transatlantic slave trade turned skin color into the only marker of slavery, and build a society upon which racism was the foundation and the lasting systemic basis. This didn't happen anywhere else in the world because slaves had always been of various colors and from different areas. But in the United States, thanks to the transatlantic slave trade, any person who was not white was expected to be a slave. And then looked down upon. Where as earlier in history, slaves had been artisans, tutors, teachers, or even soldiers, this was reduced to zero in the United States. Slaves, always considered negro, were considered inferior, not allowed to be educated, never allowed to touch a weapon, and not generally encouraged to learn master trades (yes, SC was an exception, and some plantations), because that was reserved in preference for the lower class white men. Never in history has a society been built upon racial background and slavery encased in that. That is the difference. She does not mention this. But the accomplishments of China up until it closed immediately after admiral Zheng He's voyages are very impressive. One still wonders why China closed right at the moment that the Portuguese were beginning to build European Empires and such a vastly racist way. Maybe the world would be a very different place and that not happened.
August 3, 2021
I have a hugely oversized book I bought years ago called “The Timechart History of the World”. It attempts to chart hunks of human history that occurred in various parts of the world at the same time against each other. It’s mostly confusing. I dug it out as I listened to this book, but this book was much easier to follow than the charts. For the most part, the book covered only one part of the world at a time. It goes from the Vikings, to the Americas, to Africa and the Middle East, to the tribes and schism of Christianity in Europe, and to the Far East.
But theme of this book is “globalization”, so it documented evidence of trade and interaction between different civilizations. For example, artifacts from Mexico were found in an ancient native American city near St. Louis (Cahokia). I noticed that some of the reviews of this book here criticize the author’s claim that globalization had begun. She does document extensive trade between certain areas, worldwide. But I listened to the book for a taste of what the world was like at that time, not to confirm that this was when the world started to become globalized.
The thing that struck me – and I already knew this – was the prevalence of slavery throughout history. The author tells us that the word “slavery” came from “slav”, since the early slaves in Europe were Slavic peoples.
I don’t know how much of the history I will retain, but I enjoyed listening to this.
But theme of this book is “globalization”, so it documented evidence of trade and interaction between different civilizations. For example, artifacts from Mexico were found in an ancient native American city near St. Louis (Cahokia). I noticed that some of the reviews of this book here criticize the author’s claim that globalization had begun. She does document extensive trade between certain areas, worldwide. But I listened to the book for a taste of what the world was like at that time, not to confirm that this was when the world started to become globalized.
The thing that struck me – and I already knew this – was the prevalence of slavery throughout history. The author tells us that the word “slavery” came from “slav”, since the early slaves in Europe were Slavic peoples.
I don’t know how much of the history I will retain, but I enjoyed listening to this.
May 28, 2020
The Year 1000, attempts to explore the rise of globalization, however it doesn't quite reach this ambitious goal. Written in an approachable style, regions throughout the globe are examined through political, religious, economic, and sociological lenses at this specific point in time. Unfortunately there is no real thread to tie all of these chapters together and show how the year (on or about) 1000 was the triggering point that helped lead to globalization. It was challenging to read of increased exploration and travel during pandemic and self-isolationism. It's an interesting read as a historical review at a specific moment but the reader will need to explore additional resources to piece together the rise of globalisation.
I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The FTC wants you to know.
I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The FTC wants you to know.
April 22, 2020
I picked up this book after listening to her fascinating talk with The Explorer’s Club in New York City.
It’s filled with incredible stories about the ways in which humans and ideas were moving about the globe, way earlier than I had ever imagined. Professor Hansen is a great storyteller and brings to life this rich history of the roots of globalism that traditional schoolbooks don't teach about.
The book compiles deep research from a variety of sources and pulls them together in a really compelling way. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone, regardless of whether you're a history buff.
It’s filled with incredible stories about the ways in which humans and ideas were moving about the globe, way earlier than I had ever imagined. Professor Hansen is a great storyteller and brings to life this rich history of the roots of globalism that traditional schoolbooks don't teach about.
The book compiles deep research from a variety of sources and pulls them together in a really compelling way. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone, regardless of whether you're a history buff.
November 14, 2023
A little bit too heavy on the archaeology & randomly picked bits here and there (preferred Abu-Lughod's book) . It is good for expanding this era's history into the Americas and lesser-known aspects of well-known things, like the Vikings (but in Eastern Europe) and African slavery (but before Europeans arrived). Note the 'fable' of an Omani guy, who invites an African king onto his ship, leaves, enslaves and sells him before meeting him in his hometown AS KING AGAIN and the king is just like 'no hard feelings, it meant I converted to Islam and learned Arabic so it was worth it' - weird. Anyways, 3 stars!
May 2, 2020
An interesting overview global interconnectedness around the year 1000. Especially interesting was the development of cash crop and resource extraction economies in SE Asia to meet Chinese and middle eastern demand.
The author tries to hard to shoehorn the processes which brought the world together at the 1st into a contemporary concept like globalization
The author tries to hard to shoehorn the processes which brought the world together at the 1st into a contemporary concept like globalization
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