Super Short Summary

A Splendid Exchange by William J. Bernstein, published in 2008, traces the history of trade from its earliest origins to the modern day, highlighting how trade shaped cultures and changed history. Bernstein opens with a story from 3,000 B.C. in Sumer and explores ancient trade, the impact of the Silk Road, the rise of Western and Arab traders, the age of exploration, and the effects of technologies like refrigeration on modern consumer culture. The book includes discussions of warfare and pandemics such as the Black Plague.