Prisoners of Geography: The Quiz Book E-Book

Tim Marshall

• Herausgeber: Elliott & Thompson
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 139

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

OUT APRIL 2025! The iconic bestseller Prisoners of Geography, updated with brand new content to reflect the changing global geopolitical landscape since it was first published 10 years ago. Ten Maps that tell you everything your need to know about global politics - the million copy international bestseller Geography shapes not only our history, but where we're headed... ON THE RUSSIA/UKRAINE CRISIS - What is driving Russia's foreign policy? Why do Putin's actions mirror those made in the past? Prisoners of Geography analyses the geographic weaknesses and historical invasions of Russia's territories, exploring how they have ultimately shaped the decisions of its leaders past and present. All leaders are constrained by geography. Their choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. Yes, to follow world events you need to understand people, ideas and movements - but if you don't know geography, you'll never have the full picture. If you've ever wondered why Putin is so obsessed with Crimea, why the USA was destined to become a global superpower, or why China's power base continues to expand ever outwards, the answers are all here. In ten chapters and ten maps, Prisoners of Geography looks at the past, present and future to offer an essential insight into one of the major factors that determines world history. It's time to put the 'geo' back into geopolitics. 'Like having a light shone on your understanding... I can't think of another book that explains the world situation so well. - Nicolas Lezard, Evening Standard 'Sharp insights into the way geography shapes the choices of world leaders.' - Gideon Rachman, Financial Times Ten maps; ten chapters: Russia * China * United States of America * Latin America * the Middle East * Africa * India and Pakistan * Europe * Japan and Korea * the Arctic

Leseprobe

Praise for Tim Marshall’s bestselling geopolitical series

‘I can’t imagine reading a better book this year.’

–Daily Mirror

‘A superb survey of planetary politics.’

– TLS

‘Insightful, hopeful and endlessly fascinating.’

– Daily Express

‘You will emerge from this brisk, non-partisan study of geopolitics better informed and less entrenched in your armchair general’s view of the world.’

– New Statesman

‘Another outstanding guide to the modern world. Marshall is a master at explaining what you need to know and why.’

– Peter Frankopan, author of The Earth Transformed

‘Marshall’s books are excellent for anyone who takes satisfaction in understanding the world and who harbours a fascination for the shifting alliances . . . A sharp and concise evaluation of today’s geopolitics.’

– Geographical

‘Written with insight and great wit, this is an essential take on power, politics and the future of humanity from the UK’s most popular writer on geopolitics.’

– Daily Telegraph

CONTENTS

Introduction

QUESTIONS

1 North America

2 Asia

3 Europe

4 Africa

5 The Middle East

6 Latin America

7 Oceania

8 The Poles

9 Space

ANSWERS

1 North America

2 Asia

3 Europe

4 Africa

5 The Middle East

6 Latin America

7 Oceania

8 The Poles

9 Space

INTRODUCTION

There are a lot of questions in this book, and a lot of answers. Those answers are often crucial to understanding major world events of the past and present.

Geography is one of the key factors underpinning current affairs and yet until recently geopolitics had fallen out of fashion. At the turn of the century it was argued that big corporations were replacing the nation state, and that technology was overcoming nature’s barriers. And yet technology has only (occasionally) changed which bits of geography are considered important. For example, in the twentieth century the location of oil drove many countries’ foreign policy, while in the twenty-first century we also need to know where the metals for our renewable energy and AI products come from. Furthermore, the nation state is still with us and nationalism remains a dominant force.

Explaining the importance of geography was the rationale behind the books Prisoners of Geography, The Power of Geography and The Future of Geography. This trilogy seemed to strike a note with a reading audience keen to better understand the forces driving history, the present and the future. The feedback was encouraging, sometimes humbling. Many university students told me they were studying geography, international relations or even international law having been inspired by the books. High praise indeed!

There was also some push back focused on accusations of ‘geographic determinism’ – that giving so much weight to geography did not allow for human agency. However, the books always sought to make clear, and indeed repeatedly stated, that geography is only one factor of many to consider when seeking to explain the ‘why’ of events.

Why did China’s population grow so much? Because the rainfall on the North China Plain allowed two harvests a year. Flowing from that? A lot of history. How could President Putin sell his invasion of Ukraine to the Russian people? Partially by reminding them that the terrain in front of the country’s two main population centres – Moscow and St Petersburg – had historically been controlled by Russia, but if that control was lost then potential enemies could move right up to its borders.

So, to understand the world, we must grasp the importance of India controlling the Andaman Islands, located right by the Malacca Strait through which many of China’s exports pass. We learn the strategic significance of Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea. It was always important but when Sweden joined NATO, that importance grew. China and many other countries are building or upgrading ports in Djibouti on the Red Sea. Why? Look at a map and you’ll start to see at least part of the answer take shape.

But why a quiz book? Well, mostly because it’s fun! And if fun can also be informative, then it’s doubly fun. It might inspire an interest in world affairs or challenge the depth of knowledge for those already engaged.

This book is divided up into nine major geographical and geopolitical regions. We start in North America, before moving across to Asia and Europe, down to Africa and the Middle East, then over to Latin America and Oceania before reaching the Poles and then heading up and out – into space. You’ll find a mix of questions on geography, history and politics, including maps, anagrams and visual clues. You’ll test your knowledge not just of the mountains, rivers, seas and deserts, but also the rise and fall of empires, power, politics and the human stories that have shaped the world we see today.

Some questions are easier than others, especially when you know the answer . . . Some may be challenging even for a PhD candidate in International Relations. Some you think you know, you’re sure you know, yes, you know this, it’s . . . Hang on, you know this. Those are the ones you might be able to work out through deduction, and somehow find that thought and drag the memory out from the furthest recesses of your brain. You see – even that’s geography.

I hope you enjoy the quiz. Stuff you get wrong? Potential mistakes by the author? We’re all learning.

QUESTIONS

CHAPTER 2

ASIA

1 What is the name of the ethnic group, the largest in the world, that makes up more than 90% of China’s population and dominates Chinese politics and business?

2 By what name was Korea known in the eighteenth century?

a) The Hermit Kingdom

b) The Warrior Nation

c) The Divided Peninsula

d) The Mountainous Cape

3 Derived from the Mongolian for ‘waterless place’, what is the name of the barren natural feature found in northern China and southern Mongolia?

4 What geographical feature is known as the ‘Scourge of the Sons of Han’?

a) The Yellow River

b) The Gobi Desert

c) The Himalayas

d) The Yangtze River

5 Which of the fractions below roughly describes the proportion of Japan’s population that lives in the Greater Tokyo area?

a) One-tenth

b) A quarter

c) A third

d) More than half

6 Which of these best describes the reason for Japan’s invasion of China and Southeast Asia in the early decades of the twentieth century?

a) It was lacking in natural materials such as coal, oil and metal ores

b) It had only limited farmland to support its growing population

c) It was a pre-emptive attack in response to its neighbours’ military activity

d) It had invested in new, larger ships to transport its soldiers

7 Which resource makes Tibet so important to China?

a)