For anyone wanting a painless primer in the ideas of adam smith, david ricardo, or more recent economists, such as paul samuelson, this is the place to find it. A financial times and economist best book of the year exploring world trade from mesopotamia in 3,000 bc to modern globalization. Bernstein focuses primarily on the history of trade, but does not shy away from the data required to offer a detailed and authoritative narrative of trade. A splendid exchange is a timely and readable reminder that the desire to trade is not only one of the oldest human instincts but also the cause of many of the most important developments in our shared history.
How trade has shaped the world from prehistory to the presentby william bernsteinatlantic books. A splendid exchange is a wellwritten, captivating, narrative history, from sumer to the present. These questions will provide a framework for your notes on this text. His research is in the field of modern portfolio theory and he has published books for individual investors who wish to manage their own equity portfolios. A splendid exchange tells the epic story of global commerce, from its prehistoric origins to the myriad crises confronting it today. The work traces the origins and history of trade from the earliest examples to the modern day, demonstrating how the practice and growth of world trade shaped cultures and changed the course of history. In this sweeping narrative history of world trade, william j. Lively, authoritative, and astonishing in scope, a splendid exchange is a riveting narrative that views trade and globalization not in political terms, but rather as an evolutionary process as old as war and religion a historical constant that will continue to foster the growth of intellectual capital, shrink the world, and propel the trajectory of the human species. It focuses on exploration, trade and the origins of globalization. Bernstein and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Primates share food, but only homo sapiens trades, william bernstein says in this.
In narrating the history of commerce, the book progresses through the delian league, the silk roads, marco polo, black death, the boston tea party and gatt, among other stops. New york times mel fosters delivery is unflagging as the work introduces us to a truly global panoply of civilizationsfoster keeps us listening, whether hes describing a seventhcentury syrian plague or the first transport of ice to bombay. A splendid exchange is a work of which adam smith and max weber would have approved. How did trade evolve to the point where we dont think twice about biting into an apple from the other side of the world. A splendid exchange is a splendid history of trade through the ages demonstrating that current concerns over globalisation are no different to the concerns of those on the losing end of trade exchanges since prehistory. A splendid exchange outlines the history of global trade, revealing its older than we think, has enabled the progress of civilization, and. Bernstein, bestselling author of the birth of plenty, traces the story of global commerce from its prehistoric origins to the myriad controversies surrounding it today. Acclaimed by readers and critics around the globe, a splendid exchange is a sweeping narrative history of world tradefrom mesopotamia in 3000 b.
In william bernsteins deft treatment, it becomes pretty much a history of the world. World history bernstein argues that the black rat was a perfect animal for spreading the fleas that carried the bubonic plague. A splendid exchange ft business book of the year award. Bernstein is a historian and financial theorist whose books include the birth of plenty, the four pillars of. Bernstein born 1948 is an american financial theorist and neurologist. Bernstein tells the extraordinary story of global commerce from its prehistoric origins to the myriad controversies surrounding it today. Adam smith wrote that man has an intrinsic propensity to truck, barter, and exchange one thing for another. Acclaimed by readers and critics around the globe, a splendid exchange is a sweeping narrative history of world trade from mesopotamia in 3000 b. He transports listeners from ancient sailing ships that brought the silk trade from china to rome in the second century to the rise and fall of the portuguese monopoly in. Lively, authoritative, and astonishing in scope, a splendid exchange is a riveting narrative that views trade and globalization not in political terms, but rather as an evolutionary process as old as war and religiona historical constantthat will continue to foster the growth of.
Splendid exchange chapter 6 the disease of trade a. Bernstein, bestselling author of the birth of plenty, traces the story of global commerce from its. It also describes many of the changes and continuities of trade throughout world history. Journey from ancient sailing ships carrying silk from china to rome in the second century to the rise and fall of the portuguese monopoly on spices in the sixteenth. How trade shaped the world is a thorough description of the effect of commerce, trade, and exchange on the world. A splendid exchange quotes showing of 37 although the modern image of the imperial city is dominated by the ruins of the coliseum and the forum, the economic life of ancient rome centered on side streets filled with apartments, shops, and horrea. A splendid exchange 2008 offers a comprehensive look at the events and inventions that enabled free trade on a global scale. Bernsteins goal in writing this book was to explain how commerce shaped the world. We merely traded blows with the neanderthals, but after that we quickly grasped the concept of handing over something we had a surplus of in return for something we lacked. Lively, authoritative, and astonishing in scope, a splendid exchange is a riveting narrative that views trade and globalization not in political terms, but rather as an evolutionary process as old as war and religiona historical constantthat will continue to foster the growth of intellectual capital.
Primates share food, but only homo sapiens trades, william bernstein says in this fascinating and wellwritten history. He lives in portland, oregon his bestselling books include the birth of plenty and a splendid exchange. It was published by grove press isbn is 9780802144164. It travels from the sugar rush that brought the british to jamaica in the seventeenth century to our current debates over globalization, from the silk route between china and rome in the second century to the rise and fall of the portuguese monopoly in. Atlantic books, 2008 is a book by american author william bernstein. A splendid exchange outlines the history of global trade, revealing its older than we think, has enabled the progress of civilization, and continues to change the world on a daily basis. But how did trade evolve to the point where we dont think twice about biting into an apple from the other side of the world. Bernstein is a fine writer and knows how to tell a great story well. Lively, authoritative, and astonishing in scope, a splendid exchange is a riveting narrative that views trade and globalization not in political terms, but rather as an evolutionary process as old as war and religiona historical constantthat will continue to foster the growth of intellectual capital, shrink the world, and propel the trajectory of the human species. William j bernstein authored the book a splendid exchange how trade shaped the world in 2009. Bernstein makes clear in his entertaining and greatly enlightening book a splendid exchange, it has been a major force in driving the whole. A splendid exchange a financial times and economist best book of the year exploring world trade from mesopotamia in 3,000 bc to modern globalization. Access a free summary of a splendid exchange, by william j.
John steele gordon, the new york times a splendid exchange is a timely and readable reminder that the desire to trade is not only one of the oldest human instincts but also the cause of many of the most important developments in our shared history. A splendid exchange how trade shaped the world book. The below questions are to help you take notes on the splendid exchange text. These are not the only notes you should have on the text, but they give you a good idea of the information you should be focusing on. I am sure that many of the things described in this book appear in economic history textbooks but i doubt if any are as readable.
How trade shaped the world is a book by american author william bernstein. A splendid exchange a splendid exchange is really much more than a history of trade. It travels from the sugar rush that brought the british to jamaica in the seventeenth century to our current debates over globalization, from the silk route between china and rome in the second century to the rise and fall of the portuguese monopoly in spices in. A splendid exchange is a history book by william j.
A splendid exchange is a welcome step back from the often heated debate about globalization and trade. An annotated index to selected articles from the musical courier, 18801940. A splendid exchange audiobook, written by william j. It also shows how the fight between isolationism, or protectionism, and free trade had been going on long before the term globalization was ever coined.
William bernstein contributes to many themes of history, such as culture, interactions, and politics. Bernstein and 20,000 other business, leadership and nonfiction books on getabstract. The chronological range of bernsteins book is staggering. Bernstein is a heavyweight financial analyst, and this book might be expected to focus more on the economic impact of trade. Bernstein examines how trade affects the world and how our society is dependent on the prosperous exchange that will improve the economy. A splendid exchange download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. How trade shaped the world from prehistory to today, by william bernstein is a book on the history and development of trade throughout the globe, over human history. He transports readers from ancient sailing ships that brought the silk trade from china to rome in the second century to the rise and fall of the portuguese monopoly in. Bernstein makes clear in his entertaining and greatly enlightening book a splendid exchange, it has been a major force in driving the whole history of humankind. Its epic tales of human ingenuity and determination are inspirational. William j bernstein traces the evolution of international trade, from ancient mesopotamia to todays global marketplace, exploring the influence of commerce on agriculture, technology, politics, and civilization as a.
473 831 1589 1481 295 1111 513 1521 853 728 444 563 115 875 195 1021 1489 603 1619 347 1607 1632 1212 1632 435 300 192 361 312 1238 1427 662 610 1054 1353 824 1044 711 1331 860 358 774 1204 1497 1141 634 294 460 15