The Corrupting Sea A Study Of - Mediterranean History Pdf
The title itself draws on ancient and medieval anxieties about maritime contact. In classical antiquity, philosophers often viewed the sea with suspicion. It was seen as a force of moral "corruption" because it introduced luxury goods, foreign customs, and destabilizing wealth to self-sufficient inland communities.
McNeill, W. H. (1978). The Rise of the West: A History of the Human Community. University of Chicago Press.
The authors establish their methodology, critiquing previous environmental histories and defining their concepts of "micro-ecology" and "connectivity." They argue against geographical determinism, asserting that geography shapes, but does not dictate, human choice. Part II: The Topography of Throughput the corrupting sea a study of mediterranean history pdf
Examines how shared religious and cultural practices emerged from this deeply connected network. Why Is This Book So Influential?
The authors famously claimed that previous Mediterranean histories were Ptolemaic (earth-centered, empire-centered) while theirs was Copernican (eco-centered). Many historians find this arrogant. They argue that Horden and Purcell overcorrected—they explain continuity brilliantly, but struggle to explain change (e.g., the rise of capitalism or the fall of Rome). The title itself draws on ancient and medieval
These micro-ecologies are characterized by two defining traits:
Any study of the Mediterranean must reckon with Fernand Braudel’s 1949 masterpiece, The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II . Braudel introduced the concept of the longue durée —the idea that long-term environmental, geographical, and climatic factors shape human history far more than short-term political events. McNeill, W
Horden, P., & Purcell, N. (2000). The Corrupting Sea: A Study of Mediterranean History . Wiley-Blackwell.
The reception of the book was immediate and thunderous.
The landscape is inherently fragmented (mountains, coastlines, islands). This fragmentation ensures that no single area is entirely self-sufficient, necessitating trade and connectivity. D. The "Longue Durée" (Long Term)
