The Silk Roads: A New History of the World, written by Peter Frankopan, is a groundbreaking book that rewrites the analogy of the world, focusing more on the interconnected networks of the Silk Roads. In the book, we find an archaeological and historical evidence to explore the interrelated networks of the Silk Roads. The book draws on archaeological and historical evidence. It keenly explores the Silk Roads’ role in the world’s political, economic, and cultural development. The book’s author seeks to challenge the standard narrative of world history by turning the attention to the East and analyzing the role of the Silk Roads in linking the world. Frankopan, who is the author dives into the ancient and medieval ages to convey an insight of how culture, trade, and politics were affected in a great way by the Silk Roads in the world. The author examines the roles of the various empires, cities, and dynasties that rose and fell along the Silk Roads. The book goes ahead and discusses their impact on the world. The article by Frankoplan offers a comprehensive and detailed account of the Silk Roads that will greatly arouse the interest of readers interested in world affairs and world history.
Has the purpose of the book been achieved?
Frankopan, while writing this book, had purposed to “re-orientate the entire world” by examining the role of the Silk Roads in world history. The author achieves this goal by examining the Silk Roads that span from the ancient to modern times, which is expansive and detailed. Frankopan analyses the economic, political, and cultural development shaped by the Silk Roads and their impact on the world. Frankopan explores the dynasties, empires, and cities that rose and fell along the Silk Roads(East, 2018). He goes ahead and offers a comprehensive account of the Silk Roads that trial the traditional narrative of the history of the world. The author also offers insights into the connection between the West and East and how the Silk Roads served as a vital bridge for economic and cultural exchange(Frankopan, 2018). Generally speaking, the book’s purpose is uniquely realized as Frankopan provides an in-depth and engaging account of the Silk Roads that will be of great interest to readers interested in the history of the world and other affairs.
The author of this book is also successful in bringing up a balanced treatment of the subject matter that is objective. Frankopan does not fail to form highlight the various flaws of the Silk Road empires, including the role they played in the spread of disease, war, and slavery. Frankoplan also observes the effects of the Silk Roads on matters of environment and how empires, after rising and falling, shaped the world in general(Frankopan, 2018). Arguably, the author deviated from taking a one-sided view of the Silk Roads and affords a holistic examination of the various factors that shaped the development of the Silk Roads instead. This book highlights the various ways the Silk Roads have undergone various changes over time and the challenges they face in the modern world. The author’s treatment of the subject matter is suitable for the intended audience as it provides a balanced and informative account of the Silk Roads.
What contribution does the book make to the field?
The author of the book; ‘’the Silk Roads ‘makes an imperative contribution to the field of history of the world by redirecting the focus to the East and digging deeper into the implication of the Silk Roads. Prior to the publication of this book, most studies of world history focused on Europe and the West. Frankopan’s book serves as an essential corrective to this bias by examining the role of the Silk Roads in world history(Jasanoff, 2019). The book draws on archaeological evidence, modern scholarship, and historical sources to provide a comprehensive account of the Silk Roads. It also offers insights into the links between the East and West and how the Silk Roads served as a vital bridge for cultural and economic exchange. The book highlights several empires, cities, and dynasties that rose and fell along the Silk Roads; the book provides a new perspective on world history that is very informative and engaging. In summary, the book b Frankoplan offers an exceptional contribution to world history by exploring the Silk Roads in a very detailed and comprehensive manner.
Is the treatment of the subject matter objective?
Indeed, the treatment of the subject matter by the author, Peter Frankopan, is, in an excellent way, objective. In order to present an in-depth and fair description of the Silk Roads, the author makes use of a wide variety of information, including historical and archaeological sources. Frankopan does not choose a singular perspective on the Silk Roads but instead investigates the myriad of elements that contributed to the evolution of those trade routes. In addition, the book examines the impact of the Silk Roads on the environment and how the rise and fall of these empires shaped the world(Joshi, 2019). Frankoplan’s book offers outstanding acumens into the various challenges the Silk Roads face in the modern world. Frankopan’s treatment of the subject matter is objective in a special way, and he provides an informative and balanced account of the Silk Roads.
Are there facts and evidence that have been omitted?
The book by Frankoplan offers a detailed account and comprehensive of the Silk Roads. This notwithstanding, the author there are some essential facts and crucial evidence that have been omitted. For instance, the book needs to provide an in-depth examination of the various religions that were transmitted along the Silk Roads and the consequence that they had on the world in general. The book does not provide an in-depth analysis of the politics and economics of the various empires and dynasties that rose and fell along the Silk Roads(Joshi, 2019). Additionally, the book fails to analyze the effects of the Silk Roads on the growth of technology, science, and medicine. These critical aspects of the Silk Roads were not discussed in the book and could have been explored in more detail in another article.
What kinds of information, evidence, or data, if any, are used to support the author’s thesis statement?
The thesis statement of the book by Frankoplan is a thesis statement is that the Silk Roads “have been the utmost important feature of history for the past two millennia globally .”In order to support this thesis statement, the author provides a detailed and comprehensive account of the Silk Roads. The author draws on archaeological evidence, modern scholarship, and historical sources to provide an in-depth inspection of the Silk Roads. The book examines the political, cultural, and economic development shaped by the Silk Roads and their impact on the world. Peter Frankoplan conducts an exploration of the roles of the various empires, dynasties, and cities that rose and fell along the Silk Roads and the impact that they had on the world in their entirety. In addition, the book examines the links between the East and West and how the Silk Roads served as a vital bridge for economic and cultural exchange. Undoubtedly, all of this evidence is used to back the author’s thesis statement and show the importance of the Silk Roads in world history.
Can the same information, evidence, or data be interpreted to alternate ends?
I agree that the same evidence, information, or data used by Peter Frankopan to support his thesis statement that the Silk Roads “have been the most vital feature of history for the past two millennia globally” can be used to conduct an interpretation of alternate ends. For instance, some scholars may interpret the evidence to recommend that the Silk Roads were not as influential in the history of the world as Frankopan suggests. The authors may point to other aspects, such as the rise of imperialism, that had a more significant effect on the world generally. In addition, others may claim that the Silk Roads had a negative impact on the world, citing the spread of ailments, war, and slavery. All these alternate interpretations of the evidence establish that the same information, evidence, or data can be used to interpret the Silk Roads from different viewpoints.
Is the writing style clear and compelling?
Yes, the style of writing by the author, Peter Frankopan, is clear and compelling. Arguably, Frankopan uses language that is straightforward to explain complex topics throughout the book. He also provides pertinent examples and anecdotes to illustrate his points. Because the book is well-organized and structured, it is simple for readers to follow the narrative and comprehend the subject matter well (Sattin, 2018). In addition, toward the end of the book, Frankopan gives a dictionary of words and a history of the Silk Roads, which is essential for readers who may not be familiar with the subject matter being discussed. Overall, the book’s writing style by Peter Frankoplan is clear and effective and is likely to appeal to readers interested in world affairs and history.
Does the book raise issues or topics for discussion?
The book titled; Silk Roads: A New History of the World, written by Peter Frankopan, highlights various topics and topics for discussion. Among the issues raised is the impact of the Silk Roads on the environment we live in. The author highlights the various ways the Silk Roads have undergone changes over time, from deforestation in the Eurasian steppes to developing desertification in Central Asia(Sattin, 2018). Frankoplan goes ahead and examines the role of the Silk Roads in the spread of ailments, war, and slavery. Making such assertions raises critical questions about the consequences of the Silk Roads on the environment and how this affected shaping the world. The second issue raised by the book is the various challenges that the Silk Roads are going through in the modern world. The author brings to the limelight the various ways in which the Silk Roads have transformed in the last few centuries and the effects of globalization on the Silk Roads. This begs questions about the future of the Silk Roads and how they can adjust to the changing world. Therefore, the book raises various significant issues and topics for discussion that will be of great importance to readers interested in world affairs and world history.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan is a trailblazing book that offers expansive and detailed scrutiny of the Silk Roads. The book challenges the traditional narrative of world history by suggesting a change of the focus on the East and exploring the consequence of the Silk Roads in connecting the whole world. Frankopan draws on historical and archaeological evidence to provide a comprehensive and balanced account of the Silk Roads. This idea is of great interest, especially to readers who have a zeal for history and world affairs in general. This book raises various matters and topics subject to discussion, including the consequence of the Silk Roads on the environment and the various setbacks they face in the modern world.
References
East, B. (2018, November 21). Book review: Peter Frankopan’s “The New Silk Roads” is less a history book than a state of the world address. The National. https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/books/book-review-peter-frankopan-s-the-new-silk-roads-is-less-a-history-book-than-a-state-of-the-world-address-1.794369
Frankopan, P. (2018). The New Silk Roads. Bloomsbury Pub Plc.
Jasanoff, M. (2019, May 11). The New Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan review – the world’s present and future. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/may/11/new-silk-roads-peter-frankopan-review
Joshi, R. (2019). Book Review: Peter Frankopan, The New Silk Roads: The Present and Future of the World. International Studies, 56(2-3), 209–211. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020881719848208
Sattin, A. (2018, March 22). The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan review – a frustrating trail. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/sep/29/silk-roads-peter-frankopan-review
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