Basque History of the World

From the author of Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World, comes the illuminating story of an ancient and enigmatic people. Signs of their civilization existed well before the arrival of the Romans in 218 B.C., and though theories abound, no one has ever been able to determine their origins. Yet despite their obscure origins and small numbers, the Basques have had a profound impact on Europe and the world for more than 2, 000 years. They were pioneers of commercial whaling and cod fishing, were among the first Europeans in the Americas, Africa, and Asia during the age of exploration, and were prosperous capitalists when capitalism was a new idea. Like his celebrated book Cod, it blends human stories with economic, political, literary, and culinary history into a rich and heroic tale. Not a cookbook.