Book Catalog

The Silk Roads

Peter Frankopan

Ideas and causesCultures and societies

83 pages197 min

This book reframes world history by centering on the Silk Roads, arguing that Central Asia was the pivotal region for global exchange and power for millennia. It traces the flow of goods, ideas, and religions from ancient empires through the rise of Islam, Mongol conquests, and European expansion fueled by New World wealth. The narrative extends to modern geopolitical struggles over critical resources like oil in the Middle East and Central Asia, involving major powers such as Britain, Russia, and the United States. Ultimately, the book asserts the re-emergence of the Silk Roads as the new global axis, with China spearheading massive infrastructure and investment across the region.