Ancient Trade

Journey on the Silk Road, and discover trade, cultures, and adventures from the ancient world! Step onto the fabled Silk Road, an epic network of ancient trade routes that spanned thousands of miles and linked the East and West for centuries. In The Silk Road, embark on a captivating voyage through time and terrain, where cultures converged, goods flowed, and history unfolded.

A long time ago, in a suburban high school not so far away, a closeted nerd (me) and a closeted soccer star (Hutch) fell in love and planned to make their public debut at prom. Until Hutch bailed at the last minute, leaving me with a broken heart and unworn tuxedo. Tale as old as time, right? I spent the past ten years working to forget Hutch, returning to our old high school to teach and make new memories that could erase ones of him. I thought Hutch was ancient history, off living his professional athlete life. 

Step onto ancient trade routes to witness the rise of empires and the dawn of globalization in this epic world history. Whether you need an immersive escape during your daily commute or crave a deep-dive into ancient civilizations, this captivating narrative transports you to the bustling...

Uncover the fascinating microhistory of an everyday mineral that silently engineered the rise and fall of global empires. Perfect for your daily commute or a deep-focus learning session, this immersive historical journey reveals how a biological craving drove human evolution. Discover the hidden...

In 2012, Steve Green, billionaire and president of Hobby Lobby, announced a purchase of a Biblical artefact—a fragment of papyrus carrying lines from Paul's letter to the Romans, and dated to the second century CE. Noted scholar Roberta Mazza was stunned. When was this piece discovered, and how could Green acquire such a rare item? The answers, which Mazza spent the next ten years uncovering, came as a shock: the fragment had come from a famous collection held at Oxford University, and its rightful owners had no idea it had been sold.

The Silk Road, which has been understood as a generalized route of trade between the East and the West, is different from European, North African, and Near Eastern trade routes because until recently, it has been understood as solely being a land route; in fact, it was believed to be the longest overland trade route in human history. The history of the Silk Road is extremely complex. It cannot be told as a singular chronological narrative.

From the award-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author of Material World, a story that will take you from ancient civilizations, empire and globalisation through to the most influential geopolitical issue of our times. The story of trade is the story of humanity. From the copper in...

This program includes an introduction read by the author. "Pulls you into the depths of a secret world from the first page. Ian Smith’s novel is unmissable." —Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of Missing You Spencer Collins thinks his life at Harvard will be all about...

Trace the epic history of global economics and discover how human ingenuity conquered scarcity to build modern wealth. Perfect for a productive commute, this engaging narrative sweeps you from ancient Silk Road deserts to the bustling factories of the Industrial Revolution. Immerse yourself in a...

Ruthless taxation, vast wealth inequality, and ancient global trade engineered the rise and collapse of an empire. Perfect for your daily commute or focused learning, this immersive economic history shifts the spotlight from bloody battlefields to the bustling ports, crowded markets, and busy...

The concept of international trade was born in the ancient Mediterranean, which provided the perfect set of circumstances needed to produce an intricate trading system, whose influence can still be seen in present-day economic practices. The ancient Mediterranean was home to a diverse range of cultures and landscapes, encompassing deserts, forests, islands, and fertile plains.

From the first agricultural settlement more than 7,000 years ago to the Indian campaign of Alexander the Great and the vast Maurya Empire, ancient India tells a story interweaved with captivating legends and cultural legacy.

The concept of international trade was born in the ancient Mediterranean, which provided the perfect set of circumstances needed to produce an intricate trading system whose influence can still be seen in present-day economic practices.

An expansive history of the Sahara from prehistory to the present that shows how Saharans have, over time, built complex and cosmopolitan lives despite scarcity, conquest, and the relentless challenges of the desert environment What comes to mind when we think about the Sahara? Rippling sand...

Journey into pre-colonial African history to explore the ancient kingdoms and trade empires that built our modern world. Make your daily commute an educational deep dive into a fascinating saga of cosmopolitan cities, brilliant scholars, and powerful rulers. Discover a rich landscape of bustling...

The Roman Empire and the Silk Routes investigates the trade routes between Rome and the powerful empires of inner Asia, including the Parthian regime which ruled ancient Persia (Iran). It explores Roman dealings with the Kushan Empire which seized power in Bactria (Afghanistan) and laid claim to the Indus Kingdoms. Further chapters examine the development of Palmyra as a leading caravan city on the edge of Roman Syria and consider trade ventures through the Tarim territories that led Roman merchants to Han China.

Dive into the epic maritime history of a restless sea that birthed empires, fueled holy wars, and forged global trade. From Bronze Age merchant ships to the naval clashes of Rome, this immersive journey reveals how one body of water became the ultimate prize for three continents. Perfect for...

Embark on an epic world history adventure where ancient trade routes clash with empires to forge global connection. Perfect for transforming your daily commute into an immersive journey across Eurasia, this narrative reveals how fragile paths conquered harsh landscapes. Travel alongside the...

The Silk Road and the Incense Trade Route have been heavily investigated in recent decades, but the Amber Road trade network dominating northern Europe has been given far less attention. Perhaps even more interesting than the movement of the amber is regarding shifting trade operations from government controlled systems to private merchant enterprises to monopolies of guilds and orders, a return to government control, and finally, the selling of the trade to individual countries.

Ancient remains are evidence that a huge amount of goods was once moved from one land to another, systematically transported and traded across the Mediterranean. A network of this size, with hundreds of colonies and thousands of ships, had to be well coordinated, and it was thanks to important cities along the Mediterranean coast. One of the most crucial cities in the system was hidden beneath the Greek, Roman, and Crusader ruins of Lebanon: the ancient city of Tyre.