Abstract

It is often said that the origin of the globalized economy is being found during the Age of Discovery. However, long before, in the so called by the author World around the waters of the Indian Ocean, existed for a period of more than 2,000 years, a vast area of significant economic prosperity where autonomous Kingdoms composed by a diversity of ethnical groups, races and religions coexisted in peace and harmony. Thanks to the sailing skills of these people, to their knowledge of trade winds and Ocean environments, a long-distance and extremely active commercial exchange allowed the effective union of a huge geographical area that covered East Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, the current Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and China. Nonetheless, once the Spanish Reconquista finishes in 1492, this economic network was affected and finally destroyed by the Europeans.
The present book constitutes a major contribution to understanding the History of this area and the great economic and cultural prosperity carried by the expansion of Islam. The book is based on the study of numerous documents of the time as well as a passionate work-field made by the author over the years.

Author’s Information

Hikoichi Yajima was born in Tokyo in 1939. He doctorates in literature in Keio University. Today he is honorary professor at the Tokyo University of Foreign Languages. His specialty is the History of Islam, the History of Exchanges between East and West. He has published among others, The History view from the sea, (The University of Nagoya Press, Nagoya 2006, 980 pages), Ibn Batuta’s journeys towards the limits of the Known, (The University of Nagoya Press, Nagoya 2017, 480 pages), Ibn Batuta Great Journey around the World, (Heibonsha, Tokyo, 2022, 320 pages). He has also translated into Japanese the Rihla, A Masterpiece to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling, by Ibn Batuta, (Heibonsha, Tokyo, 1996, 418 pages, six volumes), and Notes from the Voyage to Bolghar of the Volga by Ibn Fadlan, (Heibonsha, Tokyo, 2009, 384 pages).