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David Abulafia’s epic history of our relationship with the oceans is this year’s winner of the prestigious Wolfson History Prize. Charting maritime networks from the earliest seafaring societies, Abulafia explores how mankind has used the oceans to travel, trade and survive – for ends both noble and wicked.

The historian charts how access to shorter routes across the oceans changed the balance of power around the world.

Read by Colin McFarlane
Abridged by Laurence Wareing
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie