In Beyond the Blue Horizon; archaeologist and historian Brian Fagan tackles his richest topic yet: the enduring quest to master the oceans; the planet's most mysterious terrain. We know the tales of Columbus and Captain Cook; yet much earlier mariners made equally bold and world-changing voyages. From the moment when ancient Polynesians first dared to sail beyond the horizon; Fagan vividly explains how our mastery of the oceans changed the course of human history. What drove humans to risk their lives on open water? How did early sailors unlock the secrets of winds; tides; and the stars they steered by? What were the earliest ocean crossings like? With compelling detail; Fagan reveals how seafaring evolved so that the forbidding realms of the sea gods were transformed from barriers into a nexus of commerce and cultural exchange. From bamboo rafts in the Java Sea to triremes in the Aegean; from Norse longboats to sealskin kayaks in Alaska; Fagan crafts a captivating narrative of humanity's urge to challenge the unknown and seek out distant shores. Beyond the Blue Horizon will enthrall readers who enjoyed Dava Sobel's Longitude; Simon Winchester's Atlantic; and Jared Diamond's Guns; Germs; and Steel.
#5690270 in Books 2008-12-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .94 x 5.98l; 1.49 #File Name: 1604975830344 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy flamomA good reference book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Assyrians; Kurds; and Ottomans: Intercommunal Relations on the Periphery of the Ottoman EmpireBy Nenos ShemoonThis is a very good book by Rabi Hirmis Aboona; it gives very detailed accounts about the massacres of Assyrians by Badir Khan Beg during 1842-1846 and settlements of Kurds in Mesopotamia (northern).2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Christians in present-day Turkey IraqBy Grandma MosesThis book covers the history of the Christian Church of the East from about 500AD to 1848AD. The regions covered are present day southeastern Turkey and northeastern Iraq. The book explains the interactions between the Christians; the Kurds; the Ottoman Sultans. The book describes the destruction of the Christians in this region; which is ongoing today. It is a must read for anyone interested in facts about the plight of the Christians. History indeed repeats itself. We borrowed the book through interlibrary loan from George Mason University.
