Review: The Year 1000: When Explorers Connected the World—and Globalization Began

The Year 1000: When Explorers Connected the World—and Globalization Began by Valerie Hansen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the details regarding the Norse people coming to the New World. Intriguing also how murals from the Yucatan depicting blond captives, and Norse style boats, may represent the fact that some went down there. Also interesting how people from Africa had been seen in the same area. 

I was sort of amazed that William the conqueror didn't play a role in this book. Norman (and Norse) conquests did, but maybe 1066 was too late? 

Also odd was the focus on the Song dynasty in China, since Tang was supposed to be the more "global" dynasty. Although I guess that dynasty would have been too early. 

So maybe trying to fit everything into the year 1000 was a bit too narrow. Obviously she veers away from that precise year, but maybe the window should have been a bit more open to maintain the "globalization" theme. 

The section on the Rus was also all new to me, so that was fascinating. 

The section on the Austronesians was great, although "Sea People" went much more into depth about them. 

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