Synopsis
For many, the Mediterranean conjures tranquil images – whether it’s the warm weather and good food of Italy’s coastline, or the cosmopolitan city of Istanbul; gateway between West and East. But as Ernle Bradford details, the Mediterranean, while geologically young, is home to a long and bloody history, it is a sea that has witnessed many an empire rise and fall.
From its origins as arguably the cradle of both Western and Eastern Civilisations, where early Phoenicians used it traverse the known world for trade. Or the rise of the Ancient Greeks, whose early innovations allowed them to become the dominant empire, only to fall in the face of the Romans – the great tacticians. Only for the likes of the Byzantines, and later the Norseman and even the Venetians to make their own kingdoms, empires and republics. A sea later crossed by warring Crusaders and Moors.
Bradford shows in great detail how the sea and innovations made in naval, navigational knowledge and shipbuilding often made or conversely, broke an empire. Everyone from Napoleon to Suleiman the Great to even pirates saw the importance of such waters – and the decisive battles fought on them.
But Bradford also shows the importance of the Mediterranean in the spread of culture – in science, in art, in language, in religion, in agriculture and in philosophy. After all, it is the same sea where Homer set The Odyssey and where Lord Byron and Keats were inspired to write a wealth of poetry. Where arguably the filtering of scientific thought and art from the Islamic Golden Age, gave way to the birth of the Renaissance.
For Bradford, this is the Portrait of A Sea, where life and death have reigned as long as human civilization has…
Mediterranean is a fascinating read of maritime and military history from ancient to modern times across the Mediterranean.
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Mediterranean: Portrait of a Sea (Penguin Classic History S.)
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Mediterranean: Portrait of a Sea (Penguin Classic History S.) This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780141390338
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Mediterranean: Portrait of a Sea (Penguin Classic History S.)
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The Mediterranean: Portrait of a Sea (Penguin Classic History)
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780141390338
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Mediterranean : Portrait of a Sea
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Mediterranean: Portrait of a Sea (Penguin Classic History S.)
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Penguin Books Ltd, United Kingdom, London, 2000
ISBN 10: 0141390336
ISBN 13: 9780141390338
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Paperback. Condition: Good. For thousands of years people have sailed, traded, and fought across the waters of the Mediterranean. On its shores and islands they have built cities, colonised, dreamed, conquered and fallen. This sea, which brings together three continents, was the cradle of western civilisation. Ernle Bradford spent almost 30 years sailing into nearly every corner of the Mediterranean and here he tells its fascinating story. Once it was realised that the sea could be a link rather than a barrier, discovery was possible and he follows the explorations of the Egyptians, the Cretans, the Phoenicians, the Greeks and others. The Mediterranean became a Roman and Byzantine sea until displaced by the Arab and Turkish conquests which reached their apogee with the great siege of Malta in 1565; by the 18th century Europe again dominated, with France and England in contention for sovereignty. The author continues his story through the grand sweep of historic events including the Napoleonic wars, the building of the Suez Canal and on to two World Wars ending with the peace of 1945. Into his account of the history of the region, the author weaves a wealth of detail: of flora and fauna, trade and commerce, society and religion, war and peace. The result is a portrait of an enormously vibrant region and its people. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine. Seller Inventory # GOR003966266
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The Mediterranean: Portrait of a Sea (Penguin Classic History)
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Paperback. Condition: Used; Good. ***Simply Brit*** Welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there is something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality. Seller Inventory # 1003881
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Mediterranean : Portrait Of A Sea
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Paperback. New edition. This is a narrative history of a sea which brings together three continents and has been the cradle of Western civilization. The author recounts the Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Turkish conquests of the sea, continuing with the compelling story of its trade, commerce, flora and fauna until 1945. 2000. A good copy with creasing to the spine and a previous owners details to the title page. Seller Inventory # 8041889
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