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When Asia Was the World

When Asia Was the World Cover

ISBN13: 9780306815560
ISBN10: 0306815567
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

While European intellectual, cultural, and commercial life stagnated during the early medieval period, Asia flourished as the wellspring of science, philosophy, and religion. Linked together by a web of religious, commercial, and intellectual connections, the different regions of Asias vast civilization, from Arabia to China, hummed with commerce, international diplomacy, and the brisk exchange of ideas. Stewart Gordon has fashioned a fascinating and unique look at Asia from A.D. 700 to 1500, a time when Asia was the world, by describing the personal journeys of Asias many travelers-the merchants who traded spices along the Silk Road, the apothecaries who exchanged medicine and knowledge from China to the Middle East, and the philosophers and holy men who crossed continents to explore and exchange ideas, books, science, and culture.

Review:

"Gordon, a Senior Research Scholar at the University of Michigan, recalls Thomas Cahill's 'Hinges of History' series in this accessible history-in-portraits. Covering 'the thousand years from 500 to 1500, when Asia was an astonishing, connected, and creative place,' Gordon bases each chapter on the actual memoir of someone who lived, worked and traveled there. Each story has its own unique appeal, the most compelling of which is probably Abraham bin Yiju's: a Jewish spice trader living in southwestern India around 1140 CE, his life proves dramatic and transient, and his letters poignant, as in this plea for news of relatives caught up in the Crusades: 'No letter... detailing who died and who remained alive, has arrived. By God, write exact details and send your letters with reliable people to soothe my mind.' It's a rare joy-and a slight shock-to find such rich evidence of lives lived 1,000 years ago; given the way time erases personal history, however, it makes sense that each man's story feels incomplete. Gordon lacks the vision and distinctive voice of a Cahill, but history buffs will find this book more than worthwhile." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Book News Annotation:

Gordon (South Asia studies, U. of Michigan) provides glimpses of Asia over the millennium from 500 to 1500 AD with nine chapters each based on the memoirs of a man who lived, worked, and traveled in it. Some are better known, at least to historians, such as Ibn Fadlan, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Ma Huan, and Babur. A final chapter summarizes the period. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Synopsis:

How Asias great civilization spread when its traveling merchants, scholars, and holy men brought their shining civilization to Europes Dark Ages

Synopsis:

Gordon fashions a fascinating and unique look at Asia from 700 to 1500 C.E., a time when Asia was the world, by describing the personal journeys of Asias many travelers--merchants, apothecaries, and philosophers. 16-page b&w photo insert.
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About the Author

Stewart Gordon is Senior Research Scholar at the Center for South Asian Studies at the University of Michigan, and author of three books on Asia. He lives in Ann Arbor.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
Shoshana, January 21, 2008 (view all comments by Shoshana)
An enjoyable and easy to read overview of aspects of Asia's infrastructure, particularly as related to travel, trade, and customs, from about 500-1500 CE. The first 9 chapters (with one exception) follow a similar format, with material from a traveler's memoir used as a starting point for Gordon's elaboration about the era and circumstances in which each writer lived. The 10th chapter provides a useful summary and brings in slightly more theoretical material from social network theory. Gordon provides good end notes and an interesting bibliography. My only complaint is the lack of women's voices. While I recognize that there may not have been memoirs by women that met Gordon's purposes, this should be named in the introduction or concluding chapter. Otherwise one is left with a vision of the expansiveness of men's opportunities with no balance of descriptions of women's restricted possibilities in the period covered. Women's lack of access to larger social networks because of their lack of status seems important to name, and Gordon does not do so. Women lurk at the edges of this narrative as wives (both cherished and deserted), daughters, and prostitutes. There is no entry under "women" in the index. The omission of even a contextualizing note mars Gordon's otherwise very enjoyable and interesting work.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780306815560
Publisher:
Da Capo Press
Subject:
General
Author:
Gordon, Stewart
Subject:
Asia - General
Subject:
Medieval
Subject:
History
Subject:
Civilization
Subject:
Asia
Subject:
Asia Description and travel.
Subject:
Travelers -- Asia -- History.
Edition Description:
Trade Cloth
Publication Date:
20071204
Binding:
Hardback
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
240
Dimensions:
9 x 6 in 15 oz
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When Asia Was the World
0 stars - 0 reviews
$ In Stock
Product details 240 pages Da Capo Press - English 9780306815560 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Gordon, a Senior Research Scholar at the University of Michigan, recalls Thomas Cahill's 'Hinges of History' series in this accessible history-in-portraits. Covering 'the thousand years from 500 to 1500, when Asia was an astonishing, connected, and creative place,' Gordon bases each chapter on the actual memoir of someone who lived, worked and traveled there. Each story has its own unique appeal, the most compelling of which is probably Abraham bin Yiju's: a Jewish spice trader living in southwestern India around 1140 CE, his life proves dramatic and transient, and his letters poignant, as in this plea for news of relatives caught up in the Crusades: 'No letter... detailing who died and who remained alive, has arrived. By God, write exact details and send your letters with reliable people to soothe my mind.' It's a rare joy-and a slight shock-to find such rich evidence of lives lived 1,000 years ago; given the way time erases personal history, however, it makes sense that each man's story feels incomplete. Gordon lacks the vision and distinctive voice of a Cahill, but history buffs will find this book more than worthwhile." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Synopsis" by ,
How Asias great civilization spread when its traveling merchants, scholars, and holy men brought their shining civilization to Europes Dark Ages
"Synopsis" by , Gordon fashions a fascinating and unique look at Asia from 700 to 1500 C.E., a time when Asia was the world, by describing the personal journeys of Asias many travelers--merchants, apothecaries, and philosophers. 16-page b&w photo insert.
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