Trade History

From the award-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author of Material World, a story that will take you from ancient civilizations, empire and globalisation through to the most influential geopolitical issue of our times. The story of trade is the story of humanity. From the copper in...

"The deck, that is the floor of their rooms, was so covered with the blood and mucus which had proceeded from them in consequence of the flux, that it resembled a slaughter-house. It is not in the power of the human imagination to picture a situation more dreadful or disgusting. Numbers of the slaves having fainted, they were carried upon deck where several of them died and the rest with great difficulty were restored. It had nearly proved fatal to me also." - Dr. Alexander Falconbridge, an 18th century British surgeon

From the bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl. .Bristol in 1787 is booming, from its stinking docks to its elegant new houses. Josiah Cole, a small dockside trader, is prepared to gamble everything to join the big players of the city. But he needs ready cash and a well-connected wife. An...

Step aboard a wind-powered voyage through history—into the heart of one of the most influential, complex, and far-reaching colonial empires ever built. In The History of the Dutch Empire, discover how a small republic forged a global legacy through trade, naval dominance, and strategic colonial control. From the bustling canals of Amsterdam to the shores of Java, the plantations of Suriname, and the brief Dutch foothold in the Americas, this audiobook unpacks the intricate web of commerce, conquest, and governance that defined Dutch expansion.

Brought to you by Penguin. **SHORTLISTED FOR 2025 THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION** A startling exploration of slavery in the Islamic world from the 7th century to the present Slavery in the Islamic world has a long, diverse and controversial history. Captives and Companions is a...

Journey through a gripping world history of human resilience and systemic exploitation that reshaped continents forever. Perfect for focused learning during a quiet commute, this thought-provoking narrative restores the vibrant lives of West African societies before European intrusion...

Uncover a sweeping African history of powerful ancient empires, colonial conflict, and the fight for independence. Perfect for your morning commute or an immersive learning session, this thought-provoking narrative transports you to the vibrant savannas and bustling coastal ports of West Africa...

Uncover the fascinating microhistory of an everyday mineral that silently engineered the rise and fall of global empires. Perfect for your daily commute or a deep-focus learning session, this immersive historical journey reveals how a biological craving drove human evolution. Discover the hidden...

Whereas for much of human history slavery was somewhat arbitrary, in its later forms, it often had a discriminatory component, typically based on race, ethnicity, nationality, or religion. This distinction shows how the practitioners of slavery justified the practice in terms of ideology, and Slavic people were discriminated against within the Ottoman Empire. Slavs had lived in the lands of today’s Eastern European region for centuries.

The empires of the ancient Sumerians, Akkadians, Greeks, Romans, and Chinese were underpinned by slavery, where one person could be owned by another, and their obedience and labor were forced by the threat of violence or even death. Some of these people were prisoners captured during wars, some were sold into slavery to pay debts, while others were born into slavery. In many ancient empires, slaves accounted for anything from one-third to half of the total population.

Journey into pre-colonial African history to explore the ancient kingdoms and trade empires that built our modern world. Make your daily commute an educational deep dive into a fascinating saga of cosmopolitan cities, brilliant scholars, and powerful rulers. Discover a rich landscape of bustling...

This guide will take you on a journey across time, from the late 1400s to the very end of the 19th century, as well as across the globe, from Europe, across Africa, to the American continents. It will tell you the story of human greed and heartlessness toward fellow human beings, and it will lead you through the painful and often macabre voyage of the transatlantic slave trade. You’ll learn why and how the slave trade began, where most of the enslaved people came from and where most of them were shipped to, the European nations that participated in the slave trade, and more.

How do you decide what is a 'story' and what isn't? What does a newspaper editor actually do all day? How do hacks get their scoops? How do the TV stations choose their news bulletins? How do you persuade people to say those awful, embarrassing things? Who earns what? How do journalists manage...

This gripping economic history of illicit trade reveals how shadow markets and contraband networks built modern empires. From coastal coves to encrypted cryptocurrency data centers, underground commerce has repeatedly forced governments to adapt. Discover how the relentless clash between strict...

The Mexican drug trade has inspired prejudiced narratives of a war between north and south, White and Brown; between noble cops and vicious kingpins, corrupt politicians and powerful cartels. In this first comprehensive history of the trade, historian Benjamin T. Smith tells the real story of how and why this one-peaceful industry turned violent. He uncovers its origins and explains how this illicit business essentially built modern Mexico, affecting everything from agriculture to medicine to economics - and the country’s all-important relationship with the United States.

The maritime spice trade didn't just build empires; it forged the dramatic African history of the Swahili Coast. Perfect for your daily commute, this immersive historical journey transports you to the bustling ports and clove plantations of a vibrant archipelago. Feel the shifting tides of power...

From the bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl. Bristol in 1787 is booming, from its stinking docks to its elegant new houses. Josiah Cole, a small dockside trader, is prepared to gamble everything to join the big players of the city. But he needs ready cash and a well-connected wife. An...

In the Age of Exploration, the British began building an enormous and highly profitable foreign empire. While the British Empire initially lagged behind other European powers such as Spain and Portugal, it still managed to colonize the New World and discover highly-lucrative trade routes.

Silk Silver Opium not only tells the fascinating stories of silk and tea, porcelain, silver and opium, missionaries, mercenaries and trade, but also what became inevitable – war and humiliation. Much about China's modern relationship with the West is the product of its past interactions, conflicts, victories and humiliations.

Grasp the harrowing history of forced migration that built global empires and forged transatlantic cultural resilience. Perfect for an educational commute, this thought-provoking narrative confronts the traumatic origins of an exploitative system. You will encounter the profound human toll...