The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II – Fernand Braudel (Folio Society Edition)
This lavish Folio Society edition brings to life Fernand Braudel’s monumental 1949 work of historical scholarship, a foundational text of the Annales School that redefined the study of early modern Europe. Braudel’s magnum opus examines the Mediterranean basin during the reign of Philip II of Spain (1556–1598), not merely as a political narrative but as an intricate tapestry of geography, economy, and culture across three temporal scales:
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“Structural History” (long-term) – The enduring mountains, seas, and trade winds that shaped civilizations.
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“Conjunctural History” (medium-term) – Economic cycles, empires, and social hierarchies.
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“Event History” (short-term) – Battles, treaties, and the “foam” of surface events.
The Folio edition enhances Braudel’s prose with maps, engravings, and period artwork, visualizing the Mediterranean’s ports, naval battles, and mercantile networks. A scholarly triumph, yet accessible, it’s a testament to history as “the sum of all possible histories.”
“Not just a book, but a sea voyage through time—where geography writes destiny.”
