Trade and Cultural Exchange in the Early Modern Mediterranean; Brandel's Maritime Legacy, edited by Maria Fusaro, Colin Heywood and Mohamed-Salah Omri (I. B. Tauris, London and New York, 2010) xiv, 319pp., hardback, £54.50 ISBN 978 1 84885 163 4.

Fernand Brandel's original French study of ‘The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the age of Philip II' was seminal.  The maritime history of the Mediterranean from the 16^th to 18^th centuries in the 60 years since has understandably been researched by historians from the countries bordering the sea and therefore not readily accessible for English-speaking audiences.

The present book, edited by scholars from the Universities of Exeter, Hull and Washington, brings together work by historians from Algeria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain as well as from the U.K. and U.S.A.  The topics covered authoritatively are diverse and include for example the mercantile ‘invasion' by English ships in the early 17^th century and the important trade in thoroughbred horses from the Arab world, piracy, warfare, maritime slavery and plague as a determinant of maritime trade. 

This volume is provided wilt relevant maps, tables, figures and appendices; it is fully foot-noted, the bibliography extends to some 21 pages but unfortunately there is no index.  It is essential reading for historians of early modern Europe and a worthy memorial for Brandel.  It should be in all major libraries