Indian Ocean

Throughout history, the Indian Ocean has been an essential space for trade, commerce, and culture. Every European power has sought to dominate it. Now, after a lull in the postwar period, control of major shipping routes has once again become a critical aspect of every rising state's ambition to be a global power. Darshana M. Baruah shows how governments from Washington, DC, to Nairobi and Canberra are expanding their interests in the region.

AN AUDIBLE BEST AUDIOBOOK OF 2025 Award-winning broadcaster and natural historian David Attenborough and longtime collaborator Colin Butfield present a powerful call to action focused on our planet's oceans, exploring how critical this habitat is for the survival of humanity and the earth's...

As remarkable as Columbus and the conquistador expeditions, the history of Portuguese exploration is now almost forgotten. But Portugal's navigators cracked the code of the Atlantic winds, launched the expedition of Vasco da Gama to India and beat the Spanish to the spice kingdoms of the East - then set about creating the first long-range maritime empire.

When did the first humans arrive in India and how did they get here? What are Roman artefacts from hundreds of years ago doing in a town near Puducherry? How did merchants from Arabia end up near Kochi? From the east coast of Africa to Australia, one big blue body of water has connected diverse...

The Silk Road may be one origin of globalization, but the Indian Ocean is another. Barry Cunliffe examines the beginning of maritime trade using the evidence of archaeology and the tales of great travelers such as Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, and the Chinese Admiral, Zheng He. This story complements that of the land routes, showing how humans have been driven across thousands of years to create and maintain networks whatever the difficulties.

"Solitude is terrifying and awe-inspiring in Alone." —The Wall Street Journal Alone is an intense audiobook that will push listeners to face their deepest fears and realize the human capacity for survival. In April 2013, fifty-year-old Brett Archibald was on board a surf-charter boat, making a...

Experience the rise of ancient empires and modern geopolitical conflicts in this sweeping Asian history adventure. Perfect for an immersive commute, this evocative narrative transports armchair travelers to the lush crossroads of the Indian Ocean, where ocean currents, migrating merchants, and...

Journey through East African history as scattered coastal villages transform into wealthy maritime trading empires. Perfect for an immersive daily commute, this evocative narrative reveals how the sea became a bustling highway connecting Africa to Arabia, Persia, and India. Experience the...

On the world maps common in America, the Western Hemisphere lies front and center, while the Indian Ocean region all but disappears. This convention reveals the geopolitical focus of the now-departed 20th century, but in the 21st century, that focus will fundamentally change. In this pivotal examination of the countries known as “Monsoon Asia”—which include India, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Burma, Oman, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Tanzania—best-selling author Robert D. Kaplan explains how crucial this dynamic area has become to American power.

Brought to you by Penguin. For over three thousand years, the Mediterranean Sea has been one of the great centres of civilization. David Abulafia's The Great Sea is the first complete history of the Mediterranean, from the erection of temples on Malta around 3500 BC to modern tourism. Ranging...

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER A TIMES BEST MEMOIR OF 2023 ‘Grippingly vivid and pacey’ THE TIMES ‘A seven-year old girl on a seventy-foot yacht, for ten years, over fifty thousand miles of sailing’ SIMON WINCHESTER ‘A seven-year old girl on a seventy-foot yacht, for ten years, over...

Shortlisted for the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize Longlisted for the 2019 CBC Canada Reads Longlisted for the 2019 Sunburst Award An unforgettable love story of two people who are at once mere weeks and many years apart, for readers of Station Eleven. America is in the grip of a deadly flu...

I thought I was a normal kid once. Do normal kids have to beg door to door for food? Not sure. It wasn't always that bad, I guess - and then it was. Really f--king bad. I tried to protect my younger brother from the fallout. Lied to him about how bad things were. But it wasn't enough. And when the accident happened, he blamed me, like everyone else. I'm guilty of many things. He's right about that, at least. So damn guilty I'm sure everyone knows and will call me out on it. Except they don't. Nobody does, except my brother. Not even Kayla, sexy and sweet and coolest girl ever.

Around eight o'clock a.m. on December 26, a massive earthquake registering 9.1-9.3 on the Richter Scale struck off of Sumatra, Indonesia, making it the third strongest earthquake ever recorded by seismographs. On top of that, the earthquake shook for nearly 10 minutes and generated incredibly strong tsunami waves. Thanks to the element of surprise, people in the region had virtually no warning of what was coming. The tsunami waves pulverized entire towns and swept away hundreds of thousands of people across Southeast Asia.

Experience 2,500 years of sweeping Asian history, where ancient kingdoms rise and powerful trade empires collide. Perfect for your daily commute or armchair travels, this evocative narrative transports you directly to the vibrant shores of the Indian Ocean. Discover how geography, religion, and...

Discover the epic Asian history of a lush island paradise that sparked the rise and fall of maritime empires. Perfect for a focused commute, this immersive narrative sweeps across the Indian Ocean to reveal how a small geographic marvel became the ultimate prize for ambitious conquerors. Let...

Uncover the epic maritime history of a forgotten Asian empire that transformed the Indian Ocean through naval supremacy. From the fertile riverine plains of the Kaveri delta to the sprawling trade routes of Southeast Asia, experience a sweeping narrative of ambition and conquest. Perfect for...

Uncover the epic African history of global trade, maritime empires, and cultural resilience along the Indian Ocean. Perfect for your daily commute, this immersive journey transforms humble fishing villages into a powerful chain of cosmopolitan city-states. Listen and travel across centuries to...

Uncover the epic rise and dramatic fall of a forgotten maritime empire that mastered the global spice trade. Journey across the Indonesian archipelago to explore a fascinating thalassocracy that forged its immense power through naval strategy, tribute networks, and absolute control of lucrative...

Uncover the rise and tragic erasure of a lost African civilization in this sweeping maritime history of ancient empires. Perfect for a long commute or an evening of deep-focus learning, this immersive journey transports you to the bustling shores of the Indian Ocean. Experience the awe-inspiring...