The Edge of the World

Posted on 07 March 2017 by Michael Pye

Saints and spies, pirates and philosophers, artists and intellectuals they all criss crossed the grey North Sea in the so called dark ages, the years between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of Europe s mastery over the oceans Now the critically acclaimed Michael Pye reveals the cultural transformation sparked by those men and women the ideas, technology, science, law, and moral codes that helped create our modern world This is the magnificent lost history of a thousand years It was on the shores of the North Sea where experimental science was born, where women first had the right to choose whom they married there was the beginning of contemporary business transactions and the advent of the printed book In The Edge of the World, Michael Pye draws on an astounding breadth of original source material to illuminate this fascinating region during a pivotal era in world history. Free Read [ The Edge of the World ] Author [ Michael Pye ] – kino-fada.fr Entertaining read for medieval and Renaissance history buffs, but too many gaps in the narrative The book did not meet the author s mission of showing Northern European influence on modernity, nor did it give a coherent history of early Northern Europe Also, what the heck happened to the Vikings The first two three chapters addressed their exploits and contributions in great detailthen, in the next chapter, not a word Scandinavia, somehow, became nations under single kings, and Norway bec Entertaining read for medieval and Renaissance history buffs, but too many gaps in the narrative The book did not meet the author s mission of showing Northern European influence on modernity, nor did it give a coherent history of early Northern Europe Also, what the heck happened to the Vikings The first two three chapters addressed their exploits and contributions in great detailthen, in the next chapter, not a word Scandinavia, somehow, became nations under single kings, and Norway became beholden to the Hanseatic League Also, no coverage of how Christian missionaries had to adapt Christia...This is a rich book but nevertheless somewhat disappointing The overarching ideas in the book, summarised in the final pages are highly relevant and very interesting, but they are hidden in a deluge of small fac...Like many others I was very disappointed with this book Aside from failing to convincingly prove his thesis, the writing is deadly Pye states the obvious repeatedly just as that professor of history whose course you would have dropped after the first lecture if it was ...Full of informationIt s an informational book, without the literary zest that makes some non fiction absorbing Nonetheless, the information chosen and the chronology draws my interest, and makes it above merely informational Although I didn t want to finish it at first, it drew me in. Als boek van de week in De Wereld Draait Door met een lovende kritiek waarbij Michael Pye zelfs wordt vergeleken met Bill Bryson en een aanbeveling door Geert Mak op de cover, mag je verwachten dat ik dit boek in een ruk zou uitlezen Niets is minder waar.Het belang van het middeleeuwse Noordzeegebied voor de moderne wereld was enorm, stelt Michael Pye Hij beschrijft de ontwikkelingen die zich afspeelden rond het Noordzeegebied tussen de vroege Middeleeuwen en 1700.Aan zijn bronnen ligt het Als boek van de week in De Wereld Draait Door met een lovende kritiek waarbij Michael Pye zelfs wordt vergeleken met Bill Bryson en een aanbeveling door Geert Mak op de cover, mag je verwachten dat ik dit boek in een ruk zou uitlezen Niets is minder waar.Het belang van het middeleeuwse Noordzeegebied voor de moderne wereld was enorm, stelt Michael Pye Hij beschrijft de ontwikkelingen die zich afspeelden rond het Noordzeegebied tussen de vroege Middeleeuwen en 1700.Aan zijn bronnen ligt het niet Michael Pye overspoelt ons met veel informatie en wist u datjes, dat het mij al snel duizelt En dat is het grootste probleem het boek is ongestructureerd en springt van de hak op de tak In zijn pagina s lange introductie is met veel moeite een centrale vraagstelling te v...If it weren t for the subject matter I would give this book a single star Pye begins with a promising premise and ultimately falls short of it, majorly He attempts to tell the tale of Northern Europe where identity became a matter of where you were and where you last came from, not some abstract notion of race peoples were not separated sharply as they were by nineteenth century frontiers, venturing out only to conquer or be conquered Indeed, quite often they ventured out to change sides I If it weren t for the subject matter I would give this book a single star Pye begins with a promising premise and ultimately falls short of it, majorly He attempts to tell the tale of Northern Europe where identity became a matter of where you were and where you last came from, not some abstract notion of race peoples were not separated sharpl...This is a fascinating book which offers a new and missing perspective on why things are the way they they are now The best history books never lose sight of that connectionand Michael Pye consistently links his research to the present The missing contribution he brings to light is the huge contribution made by the cultures of peoples who inhabited the edge of the map, the places marked on maps with fantastical drawings and warnings like Here Be Dragons The Frisians, Vikings, Angles, Irish, This is a fascinating book which offers a new and missing perspective on why things are the way they they are now The best history books never lose sight of that connectionand Michael Pye consistently links his research to the present The missing contribution he brings to light is the huge contribution made by the cultures of peoples who inhabited the edge of the map, the places marked on maps wit...Enlightening and fresh view on the development of the UK, the low countries, Scandinavia and a bit further, Greenland, Iceland, the first norse or viking settlements in nowadays Canada etc.Clear, well supported with arguments and references Not for the academic historian but at an academic level for the lay and the interested I liked the parts on the Vikings most These brave people have a bad reputation, but that cannot be deserved unless one disregards their incredible contributions to trade Enlightening and fresh view on the development of the UK, the low countries, Scandinavia and a bit further, Greenland, Iceland, the first norse or viking settlements in nowadays Canada etc.Clear, well supported with arguments and references Not for the academic historian but at an academic level for the lay and the interested I liked the parts on the Vikings most These brave people have a bad reputation, but that cannot be deserved unless one dis...Michael Pye s The Edge of the World A Cultural History of the North Sea and the Transformation of Europe grabs your attention right away, but unfortunately it lets go and leaves you to wander through interesting first hand accounts that often don t seem connected Pye s thesis, that the North Sea region deserves attention not just for its Viking history but for how its culture trade, business practices, record keeping etc transformed the rest of Europe doesn t always hold up Besides gaps in Michael Pye s The Edge of the World A Cultural History of the North Sea and the Transformation of Europe grabs your attention right away, but unfortunately it lets go and leaves you to wander through interesting first hand accounts that often don t seem connected Pye s thesis, that the N...Het boek begon veelbelovend, maar werd halverwege steeds minder prettig leesbaar Veel rare sprongen, waardoor het verwarrend werd Bij vlagen zeer interessant, bij vlagen slecht te volgen Jammer

English
07 March 2017

Michael Pye