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When Asia Was the World

Traveling Merchants, Scholars, Warriors, and Monks Who Created the “Riches of the East”

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About this listen

While European intellectual, cultural, and commercial life stagnated during the early medieval period, Asia flourished as the wellspring of science, philosophy, and religion. Linked together by a web of religious, commercial, and intellectual connections, the different regions of Asia's vast civilization, from Arabia to China, hummed with commerce, international diplomacy, and the brisk exchange of ideas.

Stewart Gordon has fashioned a fascinating and unique look at Asia from AD 700 to 1500, a time when Asia was the world, by describing the personal journeys of Asia's many travelers - the merchants who traded spices along the Silk Road, the apothecaries who exchanged medicine and knowledge from China to the Middle East, and the philosophers and holy men who crossed continents to explore and exchange ideas, books, science, and culture.

©2008 Stewart Gordon (P)2018 Tantor 16th Century Asia Civilization Europe Medieval Modern World Middle Ages Middle East Ancient History China Africa Iran Imperialism
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Most relevant
Nice to listen to and very interesting historical and cultural insight that you never heard of.

A nice first light on Ancient Asia

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This book is not for academics and people who already know much about the histories and cultures of Asia. It is for people who are interested in the old Asian world. The media and schools aren't interested in this broad topic. I found this book perfect for listening on the move.

Interesting and entertaining

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A really good review of the rich history of Asian countries and the trade, dress, customs, religions and so on from ancient times to 1500's before Christian colonialists changed it forever. So many cultures and religions lived alongside of each other. Honour and gifting and respect was the law.. Loved this book.

A great interesting listen

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