Geography Is Destiny

More about the book

In Fog in the Channel, Ian Morris explores Britain's evolving relationship with Europe and the Atlantic world, tracing its transformation from a peninsula to an island since the last Ice Age. The narrative spans from the Neanderthals and early homo sapiens to the Celts, Romans, Angles, Jutes, Saxons, Vikings, and Normans, ultimately leading to a united island and its interactions with Spanish dominance and North American settlement. The book highlights migration patterns and Britain's shifting global position. Utilizing recent archaeological findings, Morris examines how geography, settlement waves, and technological advancements created regional disparities, with the southeast becoming wealthier than the north due to the spread of farming. Improved shipbuilding techniques reconnected Britain to the continent, enabling unified governance to defend against invasions and later facilitating colonization in North America, prompting a shift from continental focus to Atlantic engagement. This central theme illustrates Britain's journey from a remote island to a pivotal player in global power, commerce, and culture. As the narrative unfolds, it raises the question of whether Britain will remain a central figure or revert to being the edge of Europe or the Atlantic.