Listened to more of CBC Ideas’s series “The Shock of the New” and it’s great. It’s about “hinge years” – 1600, 1789, 1833, 1913, 1947 – admittedly arbitrary moments in global history that act at least as symbols for radical or deep change.
It’s satisfyingly meaty, erudite, and features some great speakers. The episode I listened to today, on the year 1600, made the case that that period saw the emergence of the global economy, as well laid the groundwork for European domination. Highly recommended.