In this critical darling Vermeer's captivating and enigmatic paintings become windows that reveal how daily life and thought-from Delft to Beijing--were transformed in the 17th century; when the world first became global.A Vermeer painting shows a military officer in a Dutch sitting room; talking to a laughing girl. In another canvas; fruit spills from a blue-and-white porcelain bowl. Familiar images that captivate us with their beauty--but as Timothy Brook shows us; these intimate pictures actually give us a remarkable view of an expanding world. The officer's dashing hat is made of beaver fur from North America; and it was beaver pelts from America that financed the voyages of explorers seeking routes to China-prized for the porcelains so often shown in Dutch paintings of this time; including Vermeer's. In this dazzling history; Timothy Brook uses Vermeer's works; and other contemporary images from Europe; Asia; and the Americas to trace the rapidly growing web of global trade; and the explosive; transforming; and sometimes destructive changes it wrought in the age when globalization really began.
#232127 in Books Darwish; Nonie 2007-11-06 2007-11-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .70 x 5.50l; .30 #File Name: 1595230440272 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Having studied Islam for 30 years I rate this book the 3rd best on Islam (and the best for describing how women ...By JohnTruthExposes and describes the DEMEANING; DEGRADING; DEGENERATE; and DEADLY consequences of Islam; Sharia; and religiously-sanctioned polygamy on women. Since women are the MOTHERS of men; Darwish describes how downtrodden Muslim women produce defective; negative men who blame everyone else for their own failures. Having studied Islam for 30 years I rate this book the 3rd best on Islam (and the best for describing how women are treated in Islam); after Ibn Warraq's WHY I AM NOT A MUSLIM and Mark A. Gabriel's ISLAM AND TERRORISM.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. It's Quite an EducationBy Music MomThis book is quite an education concerning Islam. The Arabic culture is very different from that of the Unites States and other countries and we would all do well to read about it and understand. Ms. Darwish is from Egypt and was raised a Muslim. I admire her for having the strength and courage to tell her fascinating story. You will probably be surprised at how much you really don't know if you have not studied Islam very much. I also recommend a companion book; A God Who Hates; by Wafa Sultan; who is from Syria.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. If ever I recommend a book; this is it.By CustomerIf ever there was a book that I would recommend; it would be this one. All Americans: white; mexican; Jew; Canadians; Israeli; Britains; all legal immigrants and especially our government officials. If we sit by and do nothing knowing this is happening; we will lose America. What a crime for us to believe that "radical" Isis is to be taken at their word.
