Seems like there are more and more books these days on "the history of the world". Each with a different slant -- including one a few years back detailing time through the development of three essential beverages. Well, here goes another. This time, "how trade shaped the world". Oh, I know, it sounds very "business like". True. But you don't have to wear wing tips to enjoy this ride through history.

The notion of "carry and barter" was probably invented by a caveman who had a bit too much mammoth on his hands. Fish helped to build early flotillas and unravel secrets of prevailing wind and current patterns. Romans were addicted to silks from Asia. Grains brought camels to their knees millennia ago. In the 1600's, wars between nations were seeded by greedy navigators sailing off the ends of the earth to fill their holds with nutmeg, cloves and other exotic spices. For a time, pepper was more valuable than gold. Hey, even tulips became more valuable than gold. On a dark note, trade involving slaves squished into holds of vessels reeking of human waste and death endured long beyond rational time limits. Even the improbable became expected. In 1833 a clipper ship from America landed in Calcutta, India -- after sailing all summer through sweltering heat -- with a load of more than a hundred tons of "crystal-clear New England Ice".

Trade has been the "blood stream" of human existence, quietly accompanying all the other events that have colored our views of history. From the very beginning, it's taken on a mantle of goodness or otherwise. "Free Trade" in the U.S. since the Civil War or so has been favored by the Democratic Party... until the Eisenhower administration, when the issue flipped to the Republicans. Why? Well, it's all very complicated, you see. But worth reading this book to its very last chapter to find out. At the very least, you'll have a much better perspective on how to view globalization today and the (seemingly endless) "Doha" negotiations.

What were the leaders of the thirteen colonies thinking? They were broke -- dependent upon trade with Britain. And as fiery declarations of independence were penned, America had shortages of everything needed to wage war.

But if anything, the rebellious rabble knew how to get things on the cheap. Float some boats and steal things. Now, these were not skull-and-cross-bone, peg-legged barbarians with parrots on their shoulders... rather, the patriotic pirates were civilized sorts from up-standing families who knew how to make money. Oh, everything was for "the cause". Ships of all sizes shoved off from shores to pillaged and plunder at will. A mosquito fleet was sanctioned, and off they went. Off the coast of Britain. Into the Caribbean. Up and down the colonies. Munitions. Rum. Blankets and shoes. More rum. Even slaves. Often, these opportunists hid their identities to spare their names, but made a killing. And in the process, English spirits and fortunes took a merciless drubbing.

All's fair in love and war. And gains from patriotic piracy dwarfed those of the fledgling Continental Navy. France, Holland and Spain watched with smug glee as the invincible British Navy flailed about swatting freebooter flies. When captured, any pirates unlucky enough to find their way to British prison ships in New York Harbor suffered mightily -- a fate making today's distaste of "water-boarding" seem frivolous.

The author, Robert Patton -- who is General George Patton's grandson -- knows a thing about war. And he takes readers on a ride, introducing them to an entirely different side of the American Revolution. It followed a parallel course to the conflicts of General Washington's army -- and netted results every bit as effective, yet have remained seldom told. So have a seat. Set your eyes a-sail. The moon lies fair across the straits.