From ancient to modern times, trade has played an integral role in connecting disparate cultures and places on the earth—indeed, the existence of commercial trade across human civilization means that "globalization" is hardly a recent phenomenon or trend. documents how the importance of trade has made it the catalyst for migration, exploration, cultural interchange, and unfortunately, conflict and war throughout history. Author James M. Anderson describes the history of trade and traders' lives, examining how commerce had important consequences in various regions of the world and addressing a wide range of topics, such as fair trade, the World Trade Organization, and the role of trade in sparking world wars. The book's coverage ranges from the earliest times to the present day, and serves not only as an excellent general reference for history students and general readers, but also as valuable supplementary reading for those enrolled in courses in economics and business.