Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
From Silk to Silicon summary
Jeffrey E. Garten
The Story of Globalization Through Ten Extraordinary Lives
18 mins
Brief summary
'From Silk to Silicon' by Jeffrey E. Garten provides a broad historical and strategic analysis of globalization, identifying key forces that have shaped it and their impact on the international economy.
Topics
Table of Contents
From Silk to Silicon
Summary of 7 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 7
The great conqueror Genghis Khan launched the first golden age of globalization.
Temüjin, more commonly known as Genghis Khan, was one of history’s most famous emperors. Living during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, his military conquests helped the Mongolian Empire grow to include nearly 20 percent of the world’s land mass. But this obviously didn’t happen without a fight.
Genghis Khan was an especially brutal commander, and his troops murdered tens of thousands of people. In this way, he differed from many of his contemporaries.
For instance, when conquering a city or village, many emperors would give people the option to live under their rule. But Genghis Khan tended to go a different route: he would kill as many people as was necessary to crush the existing social hierarchy and establish his own rules without resistance.
Word of this practice spread quickly and many believed that he’d kill every grown man in a village if it could help him advance his goals even a little bit.
So, while Genghis Khan was indeed a violent war monger, he nevertheless established a firm and highly effective administration. Meanwhile, he went to work improving the Silk Road, the world’s most famous trading route, which stretched from East Asia to Europe and marked one of the first steps toward globalized trade.
The Silk Road also played a key role in consolidating his immense empire. Khan established trading posts on the route, encouraging people from all over his empire to travel and trade knowledge and innovations. He used the resulting information exchange to increase his military power by incorporating knowledge from the Mongol, Islamic and Chinese armies.
Beyond that, he was a profound believer in religious freedom and abolished many of the antiquated social structures present in the territories he conquered. This, in turn, served his own expansionist interests: people were no longer granted high social status because of wealth or family ties, but because they were educated and thus useful to the ever-expanding empire.
Want to see all full key ideas from From Silk to Silicon?
Key ideas in From Silk to Silicon
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is From Silk to Silicon about?
From Silk to Silicon (2016) tells the stories of several key figures who influenced the globalization of the world economy, from Andrew Grove to Genghis Khan. These blinks take you through centuries of history to meet the major players who shaped the development of human societies, employing everything from unbridled free trade to iron-fisted authoritarian rule.
From Silk to Silicon Review
From Silk to Silicon (2016) tells the story of globalization and technological innovation throughout the centuries, highlighting the impact they have on our modern world. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- The book offers a fascinating exploration of the interconnectedness of history and technology, revealing how advancements in communication and transportation shaped society.
- It provides in-depth analysis and insights into major global events and their implications, helping readers understand the complexities of our interconnected world.
- Through captivating storytelling and compelling examples, the book brings history to life and demonstrates the profound influence of technology on society's evolution.
Best quote from From Silk to Silicon
Deng effectively bound the Middle Kingdom to the rules of an open world economy.
—Jeffrey E. Garten
Who should read From Silk to Silicon?
- History buffs
- Students of political science or economics
- People looking for the inspiration they need to change the world
Categories with From Silk to Silicon
Book summaries like From Silk to Silicon
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
35 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
From Silk to Silicon FAQs
What is the main message of From Silk to Silicon?
From Silk to Silicon explores the impact of technology on global trade and the importance of innovation in driving economic growth.
How long does it take to read From Silk to Silicon?
The reading time for From Silk to Silicon varies, but it typically takes several hours. However, you can read the Blinkist summary in just 15 minutes.
Is From Silk to Silicon a good book? Is it worth reading?
From Silk to Silicon is worth reading as it provides valuable insights into the history and future of technology and its influence on our global economy.
Who is the author of From Silk to Silicon?
The author of From Silk to Silicon is Jeffrey E. Garten.
What to read after From Silk to Silicon?
If you're wondering what to read next after From Silk to Silicon, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- A Splendid Exchange by William J. Bernstein
- Phaedo by Plato
- I Never Thought of It That Way by Mónica Guzmán
- Reconnected by Carlos Whittaker
- Dynamic Drive by Molly Fletcher
- The Art of War (new version) by Sun Tzu
- Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson
- The New Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan
- Moore’s Law by Arnold Thackray
- Back Channel to Cuba by William M. LeoGrande & Peter Kornbluh