Basque History of the World
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Narrated by:
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George Guidall
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By:
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Mark Kurlansky
About this listen
Award-winning author Mark Kurlansky has drawn enthusiastic praise for his books, which are sharply-focused studies as well as glorious celebrations of their subjects. In The Basque History of the World, he turns his eye toward Europe’s oldest surviving culture - a culture as mysterious as it is fascinating.
Settled in the western Pyrenees Mountains of France and Spain, the Basque nation is not drawn on maps, and the origin of their forbidden language has never been discovered. Yet Basques appear to predate all other cultures in Europe, with many significant global contributions to their credit. Most notably, one of their own took command after Magellan’s death and was the first person to circumnavigate the globe.
This informative book is full of lively anecdotes that illuminate an otherwise obscure culture. Narrator George Guidall rises to the challenge of the text, which includes many Basque terms, and interprets beautifully.
©1999 Mark Kurlansky (P)2000 Recorded Books, LLCListeners also enjoyed...
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About 60,000 years ago, the first Homo sapiens were just beginning their move across the grasslands and up the ladder of civilization. Everything since then, as they say, is history. Just in case you were sleeping in class that day, the geniuses at mental_floss magazine have put together a hilarious (and historically accurate) primer on everything you need to know---and that means the good stuff.
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Brilliant and Funny. What more could you want?
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By: Steve Wiegand, and others
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A Brief History of Korea
- Isolation, War, Despotism and Revival: The Fascinating Story of a Resilient But Divided People
- By: Michael J. Seth
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
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Korea was one of the last countries in Asia to be visited by Westerners, and its borders have remained largely unchanged since it was unified in the seventh century. Though it is one of the world's oldest and most ethnically homogeneous states, Korea was not born in a vacuum. Geographically isolated, the country was heavily influenced by powerful China and was often used as a bridge to the mainland by Japan. Calling themselves as "a shrimp among whales", Koreans borrowed elements of government, culture, and religion, all the while fiercely fighting to maintain independence.
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Loved the historical context but ..
- By Kathy on 01-06-20
By: Michael J. Seth
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Mexican History: A Captivating Guide to the History of Mexico and the Mexican Revolution
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jason Zenobia
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- Unabridged
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If you want to discover the captivating history of Mexico, then pay attention...Two captivating manuscripts in one audiobook: History of Mexico and The Mexican Revolution. So if you want to learn more about the history of Mexico and the Mexican Revolution, buy this audiobook now!
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insulting mispronunciation
- By Laura Libman on 10-10-23
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Silver, Sword, and Stone
- Three Crucibles in the Latin American Story
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- Narrated by: Cynthia Farrell
- Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins
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In this “timely and excellent volume” (NPR) Marie Arana seamlessly weaves these stories with the history of the past millennium to explain three enduring themes that have defined Latin America since pre-Columbian times: the foreign greed for its mineral riches, an ingrained propensity to violence, and the abiding power of religion. Silver, Sword, and Stone combines “learned historical analysis with in-depth reporting and political commentary...[and] an informed and authoritative voice, one that deserves a wide audience” (The New York Times Book Review).
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Marie Arana does not Understand Economics
- By Jose on 01-11-21
By: Marie Arana
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The Shortest History of Europe
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Celebrated historian John Hirst offers a fascinating exploration of the qualities that made Europe a world-changing civilization. The Shortest History of Europe begins with a rapid overview of European civilization, describing its birth from an unlikely mixture of classical learning and Christianity and German warrior culture. Over the centuries, this unstable blend produced highly distinctive characters - pious knights and belligerent popes, and beyond - and its coming apart provided the dynamic of European history in modern times.
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Political Cheap Shots Instead of History
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By: John Hirst
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Three Tigers, One Mountain
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There is an ancient Chinese proverb that states, "Two tigers cannot share the same mountain." However, in East Asia, there are three tigers on that mountain: China, Japan, and Korea, and they have a long history of turmoil and tension with each other. In his latest entertaining and thought-provoking narrative travelogue, Michael Booth sets out to discover how deep, really, the enmity is between these three "tiger" nations and what prevents them from making peace.
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Not much new here if you are already familiar
- By Neil Richert on 07-13-20
By: Michael Booth
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Vanished Kingdoms
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There is something profoundly romantic about lost civilizations. Davies peers through the cracks in the mainstream accounts of modern-day states to dazzle us with extraordinary stories of barely remembered pasts, and of the traces they left behind. This is Norman Davies at his best: sweeping narrative history packed with unexpected insights. Vanished Kingdoms will appeal to all fans of unconventional and thought-provoking history, from listeners of Niall Ferguson to Jared Diamond.
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needs a good editor.
- By Ryan Anderson on 09-25-21
By: Norman Davies
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Alaric the Goth
- An Outsider's History of the Fall of Rome
- By: Douglas Boin
- Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
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Denied citizenship by the Roman Empire, a soldier named Alaric changed history by unleashing a surprise attack on the capital city of an unjust empire. Stigmatized and relegated to the margins of Roman society, the Goths were violent "barbarians" who destroyed "civilization," at least in the conventional story of Rome's collapse. But a slight shift of perspective brings their history, and ours, shockingly alive.
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Can't finish it.
- By Stan K. Smith on 06-21-20
By: Douglas Boin
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Cuba (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize)
- An American History
- By: Ada Ferrer
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In 1961, at the height of the Cold War, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba, where a momentous revolution had taken power three years earlier. For more than half a century, the stand-off continued—through the tenure of ten American presidents and the fifty-year rule of Fidel Castro. His death in 2016, and the retirement of his brother and successor Raúl Castro in 2021, have spurred questions about the country’s future. Spanning more than five centuries, Cuba provides us with a front-row seat as we witness the evolution of the modern nation.
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US Bash Job
- By Derek & Amber Witt on 04-14-22
By: Ada Ferrer
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Games Without Rules
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Today, most Westerners still see the war in Afghanistan as a contest between democracy and Islamist fanaticism. That war is real, but it sits atop an older struggle between Kabul and the countryside, between order and chaos, between a modernist impulse to join the world and the pull of an older Afghanistan - a tribal universe of village republics permeated by Islam. Now, Tamim Ansary draws on his Afghan background, Muslim roots, and Western and Afghan sources to explain history from the inside out and to illuminate the long, internal struggle that the outside world has never fully understood.
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Very enlightening read
- By Massoud on 05-31-17
By: Tamim Ansary
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Excellent Book
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The great Austrian writer Stefan Zweig confided in his autobiography: “I have a pretty thorough knowledge of history, but never, to my recollection, has it produced such madness in such gigantic proportions.” He was referring to Germany in 1923, a “year of lunacy,” defined by hyperinflation, violence, a political system on the verge of collapse, the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, and separatist movements threatening to rip apart the German nation. Bestselling author Volker Ullrich presents a riveting chronicle of one of the most difficult years any modern democracy has ever faced.
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Interesting read about economics
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Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun
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Between 1539 and 1542, the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto led a small army on an expedition of almost four thousand miles across Southeastern America. De Soto's path had been one of history's most intriguing mysteries until the publication of Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun. Using a new route reconstruction, anthropologist Charles Hudson maps the story of the de Soto expedition, tying the route to a number of specific archaeological sites.
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Comparison to Coronado
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What listeners say about Basque History of the World
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Bookworm
- 04-03-13
Fascinating culture
The book is about one of the oldest surviving cultures in the world - the Basques.
The book discusses Basque language, cooking (including some recipes), culture, historically significant people, graffiti (3+4=1), sports (pelota), internal conflicts among the Basques themselves, the Spanish Civil War (the German bombing of Guernica), art, WWII, religion (Catholic versus secularism) and current issues. I didn't realize the Spanish government was so dictorial towards this culture.
The author is supportive of a Basque nation but that doesn't seem possible now. He almost justifies Basque violence by saying the Spanish government also engages in violence. The author thinks it is realistic for the Basques to follow their own laws but still be a part of Spain/France. That is not logical.
I gained so much knowledge and understanding of this culture. I wish I knew more about the people when I was in Spain so I could have been on the lookout for cultural references.
There is a question-answer session at the end of the audiobook. I would have liked to have heard how the Basque language sounded.
Highly recommended.
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- MsWhiskers
- 06-08-23
Excellent
It’s one thing to know there are basque peoples. It’s another to know about the enterprising nature of Basque culture that lead to their often misty presence during the founding of New France and the fisheries that would become New England. It’s also another issue entirely to have seen them appear in the headlines as being singled out by the Spanish government as having no right to protest their situation and subjected status. Mark’s work, as simply calling it a book is not correct, binds all that and fleshes out the whole of the basque people. I’m so glad George Guidall narrated this as he simply fit the charm of Mark’s storytelling perfectly.
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- Robert from Santa Cruz
- 01-07-24
Fascinating culture. Well told.
Covers many factors of the Basque history, language, politics, cuisine, personality, arts, etc. Great stories. Written by a master story teller. Top flight narrator. Highly recommended.
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- Jesse W.
- 12-09-20
An incredible history of a fantastic people
I went to visit some friends in Durango and instantly fell in love with the Basque Country. I hope to return there ASAP, and this book is an invaluable resource to learn about their culture, their politics, and even their mysterious and beautiful language. The narrator’s voice somewhat creates the atmosphere of an outsider looking in, but Kurlansky himself has spent decades living in the Basque Country, and it reads as very even-handed and insightful. 6/5 stars!
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- MH
- 09-21-24
Depth of information, personable narration
The author uses both his on the ground travels, interviews and textbook history to compose a very comprehensible saga. I did get a little lost in the more modern events, will need to revisit. Came away with a much deeper body of knowledge of Basque history.
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- Rz
- 11-23-13
Fills a gap in most folks' historical knowledge
"Basque History of the World" I found very appealing since it was a corner of world history that I was sadly lacking in understanding. Mark Kurlansky does a creditable job in assembling this account and I for one am grateful. The influence of these people went far beyond their population and national power.
I don't know why I was unaware of their seafaring prowess and effect on trade and commerce throughout a great deal of European history and beyond. Ship building, mining and border issues were some of the important roles that Basques played a part in. I especially liked the ancient history of the Basques, including their origins, language and iconoclastic culture.
The narrator, George Guidall, is always good and makes the journey through the details of a long and eventful story a pleasure.
The last third of the book gets mired down in a miasma of multi party disputes and allegiances which I found not to be as engaging as the first part. The recitation of 20th century struggles of E.T.A. and Franco were not as enlightening as was the tale of the earlier centuries of how this small corner of Europe survived and thrived. It retained its own speech and customs which last to this day in spite of the pressure of vastly more powerful and numerous neighbors and enemies.
If you are a history buff this would be a good listen, at least most of it.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 06-23-20
An enlightening history of a unique people
Mark Kurlansky has accomplished an extraordinary cultural and literary feat here which I unapologetically praise.
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- BT
- 03-07-22
disappointing little was written ..see below
caveat - I was unable to finish the book because so much of it was given to triviality; e.g. one entire chapter devoted to the uniqueness of the Basque beret and how it was worn. Others were devoted to, in light of my interest in the book, to irrelevant local minor historical upheavals during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries; the rise and fall and rise and fall of the various political and religious rulers . I began the book hoping to learn how the Basques came to be (so to speak) so linguistically, culturally and gnomically unique but was put off by the aforementioned triviality. Perhaps the answers to my questions were revealed later in the book, but I couldn't complete it.
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