Madelyne Rossmann’s Reviews > The Silk Roads: A New History of the World > Status Update

America's road to nefarious involvement in the Middle East, coupled with Britain's hasty and reckless retreat. Incredibly timely read! This chapter spent much time discussing 1940s and 50s Iran, focusing on the CIA-backed coup to protect the West's oil access. It all comes back to oil. Anyway, power to the protestors in Iran. Incredible and scary scenes there - but powerful to see.

World War II. Wheat shortages in captured Soviet territory force Hitler's hand. Also... Zionists bargaining with Hitler for Palestinian land in 1940. Insane, though not surprising considering that Israel still shrugs off ACTUAL anti-Semitism as long as it's to their benefit. Fuck Israel and free Palestine. Anyway, I'm disappointed the author didn't mention other groups targeted in the Holocaust. Still a good chapter.

Britain grapples to keep control of its oil monopoly in Persia, creating a puppet state that is doomed to fail in Iraq. As outside pressure grows, Britain begins to make concessions - though it gains some valuable territory near the Suez Canal in the process. A piece of land they can send unwanted immigrants to, and still maintain control over sea lanes and proximity to oil fields. Hmmmmm...

Crash course in oil and how it was a driving force in politics right before, during, and in the aftermath of WWI. Britain's, and to a lesser extent France's, involvement in the Middle East really paved the way for the world we live in today. Although infuriating, it was interesting to learn the history of oil and its commodification. Makes you wonder about current U.S. involvement in Venezuela...

Russia, France, and Britain banding together because Britain wanted to protect its economic interests in both India and the Persian Gulf. Tensions between Germany and France high after a war. Russia's alliance with Serbia pitting it (and thus Britain and France) against the Austro-Hungarian Empire (pulling in Germany). World War I happens, and empires begin to crumble in the aftermath as America gains prominence.

The Russian empire flexing its political power in the mid- to late-1800s. Britain and France being upset and banding together to (attempt to) neuter it. Russia threatening British interests in India by expanding southeast. So curious how everything awful and inflammatory is being driven by financial interests. I wonder if that could be a bad thing? Who knows!

The rise of the British Empire. The use of the East India Company as a proxy government in India and Bangladesh. The loss of the thirteen colonies from the empire. The smothering of overland trade routes in Central Asia as Britain secures its stronghold. Yikes. Also, kind of neat to learn the history behind the namesake of Yale.

The rise of Britain and its partnership with more powerful Islamic governments to enact retribution against the Catholics. The rise to prominence of the Dutch as they colonized around the world to establish a strong naval presence and gain economic power. The decline of southern Europe as a result. I'm tired. Author doesn't use Oxford comma (boo).

Globalization is achieved. Columbus made it to the Americas, and de Gama made it to India. The author is finally spending more time on India and China, which I'm happy about. I also didn't know that Manila was established as the city linking the East with the West! The "first globalized city" the author called it. The next chapter is about Britain... sad.

Mansa Musa mentioned! Anyway, Christopher Columbus (boo) just made it to the Americas. Conquistadores are ripping through Central America. The transatlantic slave trade is rapidly gaining momentum. Genocide of native populations by Europeans. World economic power has largely shifted to Europe. Don't forget about those crazy Christians continuing to be a fucking problem worldwide (and still are).