BBC Journalist and Author Nicholas Nugent, Author of The Spice Ports
In this first-class narrative, Nugent blends his unique cartographic and topographic understanding of the key ports of early seaborne commerce. Incorporating original maps and contemporary artists’ views, The Spice Ports tells the story of how major ports developed individually around the world, while also encouraging readers to consider contrasting points of view regarding the benefits and damages of the maritime spice trade.
We may think of “globalism” as a recent development, but its origins date back to the fifteenth century and beyond, when seafarers pioneered routes across the oceans with the objectives of exploration, trade and profit. These voyages only became possible after certain technical innovations—improvements in ship design, compasses, and mapping—enabled navigation across unprecedented distances. The mariners’ embarkation points were the vibrant ports of the West, where they tracked down the elusive spices, so much in demand by Western palates. This development assisted in the spread of ideas, art, literature and science, but also had major consequences. Colonial ambitions were often disastrous for local populations, who were frequently exploited as slave plantation labor.
Nicholas Nugent has 40 years’ experience researching and reporting for the BBC World Service and in his spare time collected a valuable archive of original maps, thus developing a passion for how the growth of the spice ports helped spread the exchange of global culture between East and West. He has also authored the biography Rajiv Gandhi, and Vietnam: The Second Revolution.
Registration for this program is required. Copies of The Spice Ports will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of The Learned Owl Book Shop.
For more information, email [email protected] or call (330) 653.6658 x1010.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2758674-0
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2758674-2
