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David Abulafia’s epic history of our relationship with the oceans, for which he won the prestigious Wolfson History Prize in 2020.

Charting maritime networks from the earliest seafaring societies, Abulafia explores how mankind has used the oceans to travel, trade and survive – for ends both noble and wicked.

The story begins with the Polynesians of the Pacific.

It concludes with an examination of the effect on global power of access to shorter routes around the world.

Omnibus of five episodes abridged by Laurence Wareing.

Read by Colin McFarlane.

Producer: Eilidh McCreadie

First broadcast on Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4 in November 2020.