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The Silk Roads

A New History of the World

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The Silk Roads

By: Peter Frankopan
Narrated by: Mike Grady
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About this listen

Bloomsbury presents The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan, read by Mike Grady.

The No. 1 Sunday Times and international bestseller – a major reassessment of world history in light of the economic and political renaissance in the re-emerging east

For centuries, fame and fortune was to be found in the west – in the New World of the Americas. Today, it is the east which calls out to those in search of adventure and riches. The region stretching from eastern Europe and sweeping right across Central Asia deep into China and India, is taking centre stage in international politics, commerce and culture – and is shaping the modern world.

This region, the true centre of the earth, is obscure to many in the English-speaking world. Yet this is where civilization itself began, where the world’s great religions were born and took root. The Silk Roads were no exotic series of connections, but networks that linked continents and oceans together. Along them flowed ideas, goods, disease and death. This was where empires were won – and where they were lost. As a new era emerges, the patterns of exchange are mirroring those that have criss-crossed Asia for millennia. The Silk Roads are rising again.

A major reassessment of world history, The Silk Roads is an important account of the forces that have shaped the global economy and the political renaissance in the re-emerging east.

'Brilliant and fearlessly wide-ranging' – Guardian, Books of the Year

'Breathtaking and addictively readable' Daily Telegraph, History Book of the Year

'Dazzlingly good' Evening Standard

©2015 Peter Frankopan (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Civilization Travel Writing & Commentary Imperialism Ancient History War United States Military
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What listeners say about The Silk Roads

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  • Overall
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Wonderfully narrated history of civilization

I loved this book, and found it really fascinating. Development of countries, the greed of nations, the divisive nature of religion and how all this shaped what we see today, a really incredible walk through time

The narration is perfect too, real depth and range in Mike's voice brings everything to life.

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    3 out of 5 stars

The first 2/3rds are great. Then it’s “The Road To 9/11” and little else.

The first 2/3rds of the book was enlightening and interesting, but there was way too much time spent on the Middle East and the USA dealings with Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan in the final chapters. It became “the road to 9/11” and seemed to completely skip over China’s rise to economic strength as well as lacking any analysis of the growth of India as a future economic power, and pretty much glossed over the Vietnam War and other aspects of the middle and far east in the last 70 years.
It’s clear the author had an agenda to “prove” that 9/11 was a disaster of the USA’s own creation, which I don’t necessarily dispute, but it became the focus of the book’s final chapters to the exclusion of all else.
The book also assumed a lot of knowledge, throwing in names as if they should be common knowledge without any background explanation or context.
It’s a good history book, but it left me wanting more detail in certain areas.

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Really enjoyed this

I admit history my genre at the moment and this was nicely written history of the eastern part of our world, which I still feel has been a gap for me throughout my life. Interesting and informative broad view of that part of our world over last few millennia, to.d in a story like manner,

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An incredible retelling and rediscovering of world history

I was enthralled listening to the retelling of history from the perspective of the centre of the world. Old prejudice was overwritten by a heightened desire to learn more and reshape my thinking of global history and the “western” version of history and centre of power. A fantastic book!

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Detailed history of recent events

I found it very interesting and informative, very detailed accounts of recent middle and ancient history. A refreshing informative education of all people’s of the world.

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History repeats himself

History of west and east was manipulated. Truth will come out at some point. good read.

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An excellent book and gives you good perspective. What is going to have soon .

It is a very good book and must read for everybody. Who will understand something in geopolitics and current situation in the world now.

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Best All Round book about the world

Best book I've listened to so far that gives an all round view of the world and the relationships between countries. Starts slowly but still interesting and builds up to what we see today. Helps in understanding what will most likely happen in the future or at least gives an informed opinion

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Marvelous!

A Journey through history both old an recent ending up in modern days. A great work indeed!

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A great listen

A fresh and interesting angle on history that points to a changing world in the future.

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