The Edge Of The World: A Cultural History of the North Sea and the Transformation of Europe, Pye - B-

                                               The author, an Englishman, takes the position that the impact the Mediterranean cultures had on the development of Europe has been well-documented. He argues that the the North Sea cultures are equally important and presents his case. The Frisians, predecessors of the Dutch, were traders, sailors and masters of the watery marshes along the coast, and we're the first to re-introduce and mint silver coins in the 8th century.  Venerable Bede, an English monk, is famous for his 8th century publication of 'The History Of The Church In England', the establishment of the system of dating from A.D. (Anno Dominus), and systematizing the date for Easter.  He studied the tides and the moon's effect on the same and may have discerned that the earth was round.  He is credited, along with the Irish, for spreading books and writings far and wide. The Vikings were raiders, slavers and pillagers who sailed to Vinland in North America, Iceland, Greenland, deep into Russia,  south to Constantinople and as far north as the White Sea. They developed a compass and knew the earth was not flat because when one sailed away from shore, the land fell from sight.  Though they came bringing hell on earth, the Vikings started to settle and in particular, founded towns in Ireland. Limerick, Wexford, Cork, Waterford were settled by the raiders, as was their capital, Dublin. The Dutch were the first society to engage in extensive, if not near universal, realignment of their land through dikes, storm sewers, sluices and  water  pumps.  Although I believe he wanders too far and wide in his discourse (over half of the chapter called 'Science' is about the Mongols), he closes with a few compelling points. The Hanseatic League was the first time merchants gained an upper hand vis-a-vis whoever was governing their various cities. He then draws a straight line to the  Dutch, their extraordinary and sophisticated trading, the Dutch East India Company, share ownership and of course, capitalism.  I do not know enough to know if he makes his case and he does tend to wander. Thus, my enthusiasm is somewhat limited.