The Silk Roads

A New History of the World

By: Peter Frankopan

Narrated by: Laurence Kennedy

Length: 24 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

“This is history on a grand scale, with a sweep and ambition that is rare... A proper historical epic of dazzling range and achievement.” (William Dalrymple, The Guardian)

The epic history of the crossroads of the world - the meeting place of East and West and the birthplace of civilization

It was on the Silk Roads that East and West first encountered each other through trade and conquest, leading to the spread of ideas, cultures, and religions. From the rise and fall of empires to the spread of Buddhism and the advent of Christianity and Islam, right up to the great wars of the 20th century - this book shows how the fate of the West has always been inextricably linked to the East.

Peter Frankopan realigns our understanding of the world, pointing us eastward. He vividly re-creates the emergence of the first cities in Mesopotamia and the birth of empires in Persia, Rome, and Constantinople, as well as the depredations by the Mongols, the transmission of the Black Death, and the violent struggles over Western imperialism. Throughout the millennia, it was the appetite for foreign goods that brought East and West together, driving economies and the growth of nations.

From the Middle East and its political instability to China and its economic rise, the vast region stretching eastward from the Balkans across the steppe and South Asia has been thrust into the global spotlight in recent years. Frankopan teaches us that to understand what is at stake for the cities and nations built on these intricate trade routes, we must first understand their astounding pasts. Far more than a history of the Silk Roads, this book is truly a revelatory new history of the world, promising to destabilize notions of where we come from and where we are headed next.

©2016 Peter Frankopan (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“This provocative history challenges the view of the West as heir to a pure Greco-Roman culture. For Frankopan, the brutish West owes its more enlightened traditions to the lands east of Italy and west of China, which were, for centuries, 'the centre of the world'… Frankopan marshals diverse examples to demonstrate the interconnectedness of cultures, showing in vivid detail the economic and social impact of the silk and the slave trades, the Black Death, and the Buddhist influence on Christianity.” (The New Yorker)

“In his new book, The Silk Roads, Frankopan has created something that forces us to sit up and reconsider the world and the way we've always thought about it… The book takes us by surprise right from the start.” (Nishant Dahiya, NPR)

“This is deeply researched popular history at its most invigorating, primed to dislodge routine preconceptions and to pour in other light. The freshness of… Frankopan’s sources is stimulating, and their sheer range can provoke surprising connections. He likes to administer passing electric shocks… The sheer abundance of Frankopan’s information can become an omnivorous pleasure, and its details add color and particularity to his text… He plunders data magnificently... A brave, subtly personal project of inspiring ambition and epic scope.” (Colin Thubron, New York Review of Books)

Excellent

I read this 2ce in a row! Terrific
Understanding of the area. This is important

Good review of history

Well done reminder that the world is not just America and Europe, we must remember, be curious and aware about these places that here in the western world not too many people talk about them.

4th listen

The best kind of book is one where I disagree with a lot of the authors stated political opinions but still cannot stop listening

Well researched and told deeply flawed analysis

I enjoyed this book. I particularly appreciated the variety and depth of detail. While not the best writer, more than passable. The biggest issue is with the sophomoric analysis. This is a writer’s conclusion in search of evidence. That being said, don’t let it put you off enjoying this informative walk through some of history. The tiresome ideological bias is easy enough to ignore and in some cases almost comical relief. An example of ignoring the tens of millions slaughter in Mao’s China, Stalin’s USSR and Pol Pot’s killing feilds to the obvious conclusion that the only real holocaust was by Wester Europeans for cultural reasons, somehow not noticing that that same holocaust was stopped by same Western culture. It goes on that way throughout the book. The Mongols were actual not responsible for the near annihilation a weaker cultures, they were positively erudite. The Islamic conquest of and usurpation and genocide was natural and understandable whereas the European response was barbaric and culturally inferior. While similar but more entertaining I could recommend a Little History of the World.

One of the most comprehensive world history books I have ever read

I very much enjoyed the book. The history in it is a tad Eurocentric but that is because it was clearly made for a Western audience. I enjoyed how the book went against the narrative that is often found in modern history books (especially American ones), where instead of espousing American Exceptionalism it discussed and pointed out many of Americas failings in the “heart of the world” as the book often puts it. I also enjoyed the performance, the narrator has very good pronunciation and a very soothing and nice voice to listen to. For any fan of true history, not propaganda, I highly recommend this book.

Great summary of history from the perspective of the Silk Roads

Very good history and perspective. I wished it was a bit more organized however. The author jumps quickly between regions and years a little more than expected

Well worth hearing

A lot of information I had no idea about. Western civilization and their leaders made a large number of bad dum decisions.

My lack of history knowledge

It was well written. It delivers essentially fact after fact information in a very consumable way.

Impressive

A very impressive tour de force. Although impossible to cover all details over the vast time period, the author does a wonderful job of seamlessly blending the time periods so there is no abrupt turn.

On the other hand, the handful of other reviews that were critical of the content ( not performance or story) : it would be nice to know the reviewer’s qualification and credentials to put a context behind their criticism… specially in the face of author’s impressive background and his obvious research that allowed him to quote real evidence from history.

Fantastic

One of the best World history books I’ve read! Absolutely recommend it to those seeking to understand events that have repeatedly resulted in shifts in world power.