Status Updates From The Silk Roads: A New Histo...

The rise of Britain and its partnership with more powerful Islamic governments to enact retribution against the Catholics. The rise to prominence of the Dutch as they colonized around the world to establish a strong naval presence and gain economic power. The decline of southern Europe as a result. I'm tired. Author doesn't use Oxford comma (boo).

Globalization is achieved. Columbus made it to the Americas, and de Gama made it to India. The author is finally spending more time on India and China, which I'm happy about. I also didn't know that Manila was established as the city linking the East with the West! The "first globalized city" the author called it. The next chapter is about Britain... sad.

Mansa Musa mentioned! Anyway, Christopher Columbus (boo) just made it to the Americas. Conquistadores are ripping through Central America. The transatlantic slave trade is rapidly gaining momentum. Genocide of native populations by Europeans. World economic power has largely shifted to Europe. Don't forget about those crazy Christians continuing to be a fucking problem worldwide (and still are).

The deflation of the Mongols, the Black Death, and Timur... now the stage is set for the discovery of the New World. I'd like to look up if anything from Timur's reign remains, it sounds like the architecture would be insane to see. I also like how the author is able to, quite practically, explain the way northwest Europe was able to gain more prominence following the plague. Also... the Ottoman Empire begins...

If you aren't a history buff, this probably won't be the book that makes you one. It is, however, a fascinating overview of world events focusing on the East and the relationship of the West to the East. As someone who had a lot of names and facts rattling around inside my head, I appreciate that this book helps put these things into a meaningful narrative. Recommend to those looking to connect West with East.

The Mongols have invaded Central Asia! I didn't know that there were steppe nomads in Egypt that actually clashed with the Mongols as they made their way West towards the Mediterranean. It is also interesting, as the author points out, how history remembers the Mongols. Apparently they did appreciate the arts and "higher society" in the bigger cities captured. Not all barbarism all the time, I guess.