Discover Unlocking the World | Royal Museums Greenwich Shop
10% off* for subscribers | Free UK delivery over £50 | 10% off* for Members
Unlocking the World -
Unlocking the World -
Unlocking the World
Unlocking the World

Unlocking the World

£10.99 Sale

From the acclaimed historian of global empire, the dramatic story of how steam power reshaped our cities and our seas, and forged a new world order.

Steam power transformed our world, initiating the complex, resource-devouring industrial system the consequences of which we live today. It revolutionized work and production, but also the ease and cost of movement over land and water. The result was to throw open vast areas of the world to the rampaging expansion of Europeans and Americans on a scale previously unimaginable.

Unlocking the World is the captivating history of the great port cities which emerged as the bridgeheads of this new steam-driven economy, reshaping not just the trade and industry of the regions around them but their culture and politics as well. They were the agents of what we now call 'globalization', but their impact and influence, and the reactions they provoked, were far from predictable. Nor were they immune to the great upheavals in world politics across the 'steam century'.

This book is global history at its very best. Packed with fascinating case histories (from New Orleans to Montreal, Bombay to Singapore, Calcutta to Shanghai), individual stories and original ideas, Darwin's book allows us, for better or worse, to see the modern age taking shape.

  • English
  • Paperback
  • 496 Pages
  • Size: 198 mm x 129 mm 
+ Read more - Show less
  • Subscribe to save 10%*

    Sign up to our newsletter for a 10% discount off your next order. You'll also be the first to discover new products, promotions and inspiration. *Exclusions apply, please see Terms and Conditions.

    Subscribe now

  • Members save 10%*

    Museum Members receive 10% off shopping both online and at the museum sites. *Exclusions apply, please see Terms & Conditions.

    Join as a member today.

  • FREE UK Delivery for orders over £50

    Our standard processing
    and fulfillment time is 1-2 working days from the time you placed your order, excluding Custom Prints, online-only telescopes and personalised clothing.

    All UK orders (excluding personalised clothing) are sent using a tracked service.

    Custom Prints (those which are customised by choosing a size and frame) and personalised clothing take a little longer to fulfill due to being made to order.

    Please see our Delivery & Returns page for more information and last order dates.

    Online-only telescopes are shipped directly from Celestron.

    FREE Standard UK delivery for all orders over £50 (Royal Mail)

    For all other orders, we offer Standard UK delivery for £4.95 per order (Royal Mail).

    We also offer UK FedEx 1-3 Working Days for £9.90. Excludes Custom Prints and Personalised Clothing.

  • International Delivery Information

    Delivery rate varies by country and value of order, and starts from as little as £6.95. 

    Please allow 5-7 working days for standard orders to be dispatched.

    Custom Prints (those which are customised by choosing a size and frame) and personalised clothing take a little longer to fulfill due to being made to order. Please see our recommended last order dates for these items on our  Delivery & Returns page.

    We send using a Royal Mail/FedEx tracked delivery service (excluding personalised products). Please allow 7-10 working days to receive after we have dispatched.

    Please see our Delivery & Returns page for all information.

  • Returns Policy

    For all returns, please contact us as soon as possible using the contact form, expressing your wish to return. Please wait for confirmation from one of our team before returning.

    Custom Prints (those which are customised by choosing a size and frame) and personalised clothing are made to order and therefore we are unable to offer a refund or exchange, unless they are faulty.

    Please see our Delivery & Returns page for full information.

  • Every purchase supports the work of Royal Museums Greenwich

    All proceeds from all purchases made on the Royal Museums Greenwich online shop support the work of the museum. 

    Should you wish to, you can now add a voluntary donation to your order. All donations, big or small, will make a difference.

    Thank you for your continued support.