Geography Is Destiny: Britain and the World, a 10,000 Year History

Description

'Ian Morris has established himself as a leader in making big history interesting and understandable' Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs and Steel 'Morris succeeds triumphantly at cramming 10,000 years of history into a single book' Robert Colvile, Times Geography is Destiny tells the history of Britain and its changing relationships with Europe and the wider world, from its physical separation at the end of the Ice Age to the first flickers of a United Kingdom, struggles for the Atlantic, and rise of the Pacific Rim. Applying the latest archaeological evidence, Ian Morris explores how geography, migration, government and new technologies interacted to produce regional inequalities that still affect us today. He charts Britain's geopolitical fortunes over thousands of years, revealing its transformation from a European satellite into a state at the centre of global power, commerce, and culture. But as power and wealth shift from West to East, does Britain's future lie with Europe or the wider world?

Ian Morris teaches at Stanford University and is a Fellow of the British Academy. He is the bestselling author of Why the West Rules - For Now and War: What is it Good For? He has won awards for teaching and writing and has directed archaeological digs in Greece and Italy.

'A 'big ideas' gallop ... Morris succeeds triumphantly at cramming 10,000 years of history into a single book' - Robert Colvile 'Morris is a jaunty, accessible writer, especially strong on his home field of archaeology, and this is a book brimming with neat slogans and ideas' - Dan Jones 'Morris writes with great knowledge and wisdom and a certain panache ... I can't think of a better, more thought-provoking and generally wise introduction to the 'long' history of Britain's changing relations with continental Europe and the wider world than Geography is Destiny, or one that is such a terrific read' - Bernard Porter 'Praise for Ian Morris: 'A great work of synthesis and argument, drawing together an awesome range of materials and authorities' - Andrew Marr 'A fresh perspective ... Ian Morris has established himself as a leader in making big history interesting and understandable' - Jared Diamond, author