Empire by niall ferguson in niall fergusons new book, the british empire was a good thing for everybody and the american empire now being born. Feb 23, 2010 rather, he says, it is possible that this whole conceptual framework is, in fact, flawed, and that empires fall quickly and without warning. Its a book once read, you can return and dip into for a. How britain made the modern world by niall ferguson.
How britain made the modern world ebook written by niall ferguson. An important new work of synthesis and revision, empire argues that the world we know today is in large measure the product of britains age of empire. Listen to unlimited audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. The americans have taken over our old role without yet facing the fact that an empire comes with it. The global spread of capitalism, telecommunications, the english. The british empire didnt exactly disappear, writes superstar scholar ferguson economicsnyu. Fergusons most revolutionary and popular work, this is a major reinterpretation of the british empire as one of the worlds greatest modernising forces. From the empires humble origins of pirates and plantations to the wars that bankrupted left it bankrupt, ferguson brings the reader to all corners of the empire, leaving no sunlit stone untouched. Niall fergusons acclaimed bestseller on the highs and lows of britains empire once vast swathes of the globe were coloured imperial red and britannia ruled not just the waves, but the prairies of america, the plains of asia, the jungles of africa and the deserts of arabia. Rather, he says, it is possible that this whole conceptual framework is, in fact, flawed, and that empires fall quickly and without warning. How britain made the modern world is published to coincide with a channel 4 tv series.
Once vast swathes of the globe were coloured imperial red, and britannia ruled not just the waves but the prairies of america, the plains of asia, t. Previously, he was a professor at harvard university and new york university, visiting professor at new college of the humanities and senior research fellow at jesus college, oxford ferguson writes and lectures on international history, economic and. How britain made the modern world audiobook by niall ferguson. Once vast swathes of the globe were coloured imperial red and britannia ruled not just the waves, but the prairies of america, the plains of asia, the jungles of africa and the deserts of arabia. Niall ferguson, author of this books sequel, colossus. Niall fergusons empire pax britannica is an ugly phrase for many people, redolent of empire, slavery and colonialism.
The time is ripe for a reappraisal, and in empire, niall ferguson boldly recasts the. In niall fergusons view, one of his well selected pictures seems fairly to sum up the british empire. In niall fergusons 2002 book empire, ferguson argues that while the british empire had its faults, it was better for the people over whom it ruled and for the world as a whole. Niall ferguson s acclaimed empire brilliantly unfolds the imperial story in all its splendours and its miseries, showing how a gang of buccaneers and golddiggers planted the seed of the biggest empire in all history and set the world on the road to modernity. A little riskily, niall fergusons history of the british empire opens with a long quotation from joseph conrad. How britain made the modern world by niall ferguson allen lane. The rise and demise of the british world order and. Niall ferguson, sean barrett, blackstone audio, inc audible audiobooks. Its a book once read, you can return and dip into for a refresher. The world we know today is in large measure the product of britains age of empire.
By the eve of world war ii, around a quarter of the worlds land surface was under some form of british rule. All over the world, an astonishing proportion of people now work for westernstyle companies, study at westernstyle universities, vote for westernstyle governments, take western medicines, wear western clothes, and even work western hours. He is also a senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford university, and a. Illustration by jillian tamaki the historian, biographer and author, most recently, of the square and the tower owns books by people who have insulted him in print. It shows on a vast canvas how the british empire in the 19th century spearheaded real globalisation with steampower, telegraphs, guns, engineers, missionaries and millions of settlers. The global spread of capitalism, telecommunications, the english language, and the institutions of. Listen to civilization by niall ferguson for free with a 30 day free trial. Ferguson s most revolutionary and popular work, empire is a major reinterpretation of the british empire as one of the worlds greatest modernising forces. Niall ferguson books list of books by author niall ferguson. Westerners dont understand how vulnerable freedom is, the guardian, february 20, 2011. Though his next few years will be dedicated to his other principal interests, namely money, germanjewish history, and power, it is his multiple works on empire that.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read empire. On the contrary, says ferguson, the british empire with its superior culture created the modern world, and laid the foundation upon which the americans could later take over, and without the british empire says ferguson, a large part of the world would still live a barbarous lifestyle in lawless countries. The time is ripe for a reappraisal, and in empire, niall ferguson boldly recasts the british empire as one of the worlds greatest modernizing forces. For decades, it has mainly provoked condemnation or at best. Empire audiobook by niall ferguson, read by sean barrett. How britain made the modern world by niall ferguson 392pp, allen lane. A welcome antidote to the nauseating righteousness and condescension pedalled by niall ferguson in his 2003 book empire. He is the author of paper and iron, the house of rothschild, the pity of war, the cash nexus, empire, colossus, the war of the world, the ascent of money, high financier, civilization. Milton friedmans legacy for freemarket thinkers cps, friedman at 100 duration. He wrote a criticism of obama in newsweek that threw all history out the window and made harvard the target of mockery for a while.
Niall ferguson argues that the british empire was an overall good entity and todays modern world needs another nation to step up and be a world leader. Niall ferguson packs this book with sharp wit and a keen eye for a good primary source. Apr 14, 2004 the time is ripe for a reappraisal, and in empire, niall ferguson boldly recasts the british empire as one of the worlds greatest modernizing forces. Tisch professor of history at harvard university, a senior research fellow of the hoover institution, stanford university, and a visiting professor at tsinghua university in beijing.
In his newest book, british historian niall ferguson sees more. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. Doughty none but the most egregiously naive can doubt any longer that the united states is the geopolitical centre of a vast technological empire, the largest and most powerful to date. Fergusons imperial boosterism differs from more critical recent scholarship on the empire, such as linda colleys captives and simon schamas a history of britain. How britain made the modern world audible audiobook. The last sentiment spoken by the ruler of a rival and evil empire, encapsulate the main theme of empire, british scholar niall fergusons extraordinary homage on which a bbc documentary was. Preface by the author the folio society edition of empire features a new preface specially written by its author, acclaimed historian niall ferguson. With that in mind, ferguson explores what it might. Ferguson was a vocal supporter of the iraq war and called himself a fully paidup member of the neoimperialist gang. The global empire of niall ferguson harvard magazine. Oct 25, 2012 niall ferguson s acclaimed bestseller on the highs and lows of britains empire once vast swathes of the globe were coloured imperial red and britannia ruled not just the waves, but the prairies of america, the plains of asia, the jungles of africa and the deserts of arabia. The rise and demise of the british world order, read by the author himself.
He is senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford. Fergusons gracefully written narrative traces the history of the empire from its beginnings in the 16th century. The rise to global predominance of western civilization is the single most important historical phenomenon of the past five hundred years. The rise and demise of the british world order and the lessons for global power niall ferguson, author, neil ferguson, author. From the empire s humble origins of pirates and plantations to the wars that bankrupted left it bankrupt, ferguson brings the reader to all corners of the empire, leaving no sunlit stone untouched. An extract from the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of niall fergusons provocative bestseller, civilization. The west and the rest, read brilliantly by the author himself. Empire audible audiobook unabridged niall ferguson author, sean barrett narrator, blackstone audio, inc. Niall ferguson is one of britains most renowned historians. Fergusons emphasis throughout is on the pursuit of. As its wealth has grown, so its military prowess has shrunk, along with its selfbelief.
The rise and fall of the american empire, gives his readers a crashcourse in british imperial history starting with the english privateering raids on the spanish empire and ending with the suez canal crisis of 1956. For decades, it has mainly provoked condemnation or. Ferguson s imperial boosterism differs from more critical recent scholarship on the empire, such as linda colleys captives and simon schamas a history of britain. How britain made the modern world ferguson, niall isbn. What the british empire did for the world from a speech by the historian, given at the intelligence squared debate at the royal geographical society. Empire by niall ferguson overdrive rakuten overdrive.
Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet. An extract from the audiobook edition of niall fergusons empire. Niall ferguson is one of the worlds most renowned historians. Niall ferguson audiobooks download instantly today. Once vast swathes of the globe were coloured imperial red, and britannia ruled not just the waves but the prairies of america, the plains of asia, the jungles of africa and the deserts of arabia. The rise and demise of the british world order and the lessons for global power new york. The rise and demise of the british world order and the lessons for global power. The rise and demise of the british world order and the lessons for global power is, first, a mouthful to say in one breath. Written by niall ferguson, audiobook narrated by jonathan keeble.
He is also a visiting professor at tsinghua university, beijing. Ferguson s gracefully written narrative traces the history of the empire from its beginnings in the 16th century. The global spread of capitalism, telecommunications, the e. Yet for todays generation, the british empire seems a victorian irrelevance. Penguin presents the unabridged audiobook edition of empire by niall ferguson, read by jonathan keeble. An extract from the audiobook edition of niall ferguson s empire. Fergusons most revolutionary and popular work, empire is a major reinterpretation of the british empire as one of the worlds greatest modernising forces. Nov 01, 2011 the rise to global predominance of western civilization is the single most important historical phenomenon of the past five hundred years. At its peak in the nineteenth century, the british empire was the largest empire ever known, governing roughly a quarter of the worlds population. Previously, he was a professor at harvard university and new york university, visiting professor at new college of the humanities and senior research fellow at jesus college, oxford. Ferguson s most revolutionary and popular work, this is. Like the roman empire in the early fifth century, europe has allowed its defenses to crumble.