Uploaded August 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Starting over 160,000 years ago, Abulafia shares his thinking on how the seas changed humanity.
David Abulafia is Emeritus Professor of Mediterranean History at Cambridge University. He is the author of many books, including The Great Sea: A Human History of the Mediterranean.
His newest book, which we’ll be discussing, is The Boundless Sea: A Human History of the Oceans
You start your book, in the preface, talking about connections, literally saying,
“In the making of connections between human societies, the role of the sea is particularly fascinating. Connections across large, mainly uninhabited open spaces have brought together people’s religions and civilisations in stimulating ways.”
The history of the world used to be discussed in top-down ways—looking at kings, generals and tycoons. That has changed and now, the study of history casts its lens on all different aspects of humanity. David Abulafia’s book explores the history of humanity’s relationship to the oceans and how oceans influenced humanity and culture.
How the oceans have had effects on bottom-up aspects of history, culture, evolution, who we are and who we are becoming. I'm also interested in what has replaced the aqueous seas as carriers and boundaries.
Is there a top-down and bottom-up way of thinking about the history of the seas,
What are the metaphors of the sea that effect how people see the world.
You say that this is primarily a book about traders. What are the characteristics of traders? How has the nature of the trader changed over time?
What are the pluses and minuses of global trade?
Early history of seafaring, exploration and settlement. Your book pegs a date of 176,000 years ago. Why?
Sea levels were 100 meters lower than today?
Tell us about the little people of Flores—called Hobbits, and the stregodons… and the role of seafaring in biodiversity and distribution of animals.
Homo sapiens—65,000 years ago and interaction with Denisovians
Cultural impacts of maritime connections.
Theory about low sea level vs high sea levels and colonization.
Motives of seafarers
Starting over 160,000 years ago, Abulafia shares his thinking on how the seas changed humanity.
David Abulafia is Emeritus Professor of Mediterranean History at Cambridge University. He is the author of many books, including The Great Sea: A Human History of the Mediterranean.
His newest book, which we’ll be discussing, is The Boundless Sea: A Human History of the Oceans
You start your book, in the preface, talking about connections, literally saying,
“In the making of connections between human societies, the role of the sea is particularly fascinating. Connections across large, mainly uninhabited open spaces have brought together people’s religions and civilisations in stimulating ways.”
The history of the world used to be discussed in top-down ways—looking at kings, generals and tycoons. That has changed and now, the study of history casts its lens on all different aspects of humanity. David Abulafia’s book explores the history of humanity’s relationship to the oceans and how oceans influenced humanity and culture.
How the oceans have had effects on bottom-up aspects of history, culture, evolution, who we are and who we are becoming. I'm also interested in what has replaced the aqueous seas as carriers and boundaries.
Is there a top-down and bottom-up way of thinking about the history of the seas,
What are the metaphors of the sea that effect how people see the world.
You say that this is primarily a book about traders. What are the characteristics of traders? How has the nature of the trader changed over time?
What are the pluses and minuses of global trade?
Early history of seafaring, exploration and settlement. Your book pegs a date of 176,000 years ago. Why?
Sea levels were 100 meters lower than today?
Tell us about the little people of Flores—called Hobbits, and the stregodons… and the role of seafaring in biodiversity and distribution of animals.
Homo sapiens—65,000 years ago and interaction with Denisovians
Cultural impacts of maritime connections.
Theory about low sea level vs high sea levels and colonization.
Motives of seafarers
