Worldwide maritime trade has been the driver of wealth-creation, knowledge-collection, social, political and economic progress and although some historians have shown that from the 15th century, Nick Collins shows it predates the end of the Ice Age when the Indian Ocean was the centre of long-haul voyages from east Africa to the Americas. It demonstrates the centrality of the Indian subcontinent. Meaningful trade gradually penetrated the Mediterranean, resulting in more famous civilisations including Phoenicians, Egyptians, Minoans and Greeks. How they and Hittite, Mittani etc are related is explained. How it collapsed in Europe in the 5th-7th centuries but continued in Asia concludes the story. It is based on huge reading with an attractive wring style, full of fascinating insights from an author with life-long experience in international shipping.