Book Reviewed: The Boundless Sea: A Human History of the Oceans Hardcover, by David Abulafia

The Captive Sea: Communication and Commerce in the last four millennia

Long before Columbus set off for India, merchant mariners had been plying trade from Rome to the Indian subcontinent trading silk, spices, timber and ivory. This book is voluminous work at 1050 pages that takes the reader to far depths of the planet on water from the Pacific to Atlantic and Indian Oceans. There are 50 chapters and the reader can pick and choose a continent of interest rather than read from beginning. The five sections of the book, each dealing with the three oceans is a magnificent work and describes the tenacity of human beings for their struggle to survive, prosper and dominate the planet.

The Great Sea since the beginning of civilization is amazing as the author begins to focus on Mediterranean’s capacity over the last 3,000 years and reveals the imagination, resilience and ruthlessness of sailors. The unending domination continues as recently China leased the Piraeus docks from a cash-strapped Greek government. Building on economic and political strength is as old as the birth of civilization.

The trade of Indian Ocean from Alexandria and Red Sea ports to Indian coasts brings together the robust trade from Rome to India and the tremendous impact on commerce, culture and religion. The trade continues onwards into the eastern side of Indian Ocean to Malay Archipelago. The navigation based on monsoons propelled trade between China, the eastern archipelago and India. The Indian trade also brought Hinduism and Buddhism to South East Asia.

Author Abulafia decodes successive generations testing the sea as a source of survival. He also shows that it is a bearer of promises and rewards. The waterways were an ecosystem swayed by oceans currents and monsoon. But the political initiative and commerce determined the importance of Mediterranean cities and Asia. This is a fascinating book that includes every continent and brings amazing amount of history. I recommend this to readers interested in human adventure and ancient history.