Tag: nick collins
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The Indian Ocean: Cradle and Catalyst of Civilisation – from the Ice Age on
During the Ice Age, significant human development was largely confined to regions bordering the Indian Ocean, characterised by temperate, balmy, or Mediterranean climates, yet dominated by monsoons. These conditions fostered early cultural advances in a region uniquely suited for human progress. The dominant landmasses included the Indian subcontinent, Sundaland (now the Indonesian archipelago), and an…
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Jainism’s Maritime Influence on the Ancient Mediterranean
Historians have long been intrigued by the striking similarities between Indian philosophical traditions — Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism — and Greek philosophy. Examining history through the lens of maritime trade reveals not only economic patterns but also the transmission of ideas along trade routes. The Hiram-Solomon Treaty: Promoting Maritime Trade A notable biblical account describes…
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Taiwan’s Maritime Legacy and Modern China’s Ambitions
Pete Hegseth, US Defence Secretary, recently warned that China may be preparing to invade Taiwan. This has historical echoes. As a maritime historian with 40 years in global trade, I see striking parallels, explored in my book The Millennium Maritime Trade Revolution: 700–1700, in how Asia’s maritime supremacy unraveled.. History doesn’t repeat, but its geographical…
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Maritime Trade and the Indian Subcontinent’s pivotal role in early world history
For nearly four decades I worked in the maritime trade world, in London, Tokyo, Singapore and Dubai. This practical knowledge and my history degree inspired my three-volume series on how maritime trade drove world history. The first is How Maritime Trade and the Indian Subcontinent Shaped the World. Ice Age to Mid 8th Century, in…
Nick Collins 