Welcome to Maritime Trade History
Greetings, seekers of history’s deeper currents. I am Nick Collins. After four decades in senior positions in the maritime industry in London, Tokyo, Singapore, and Dubai, I noted that there was no big-picture book on how maritime trade has influenced world history. Thus with a history degree from Cambridge University, I have woven rigorous and meticulous research with practical expertise to explore how maritime trade drove human progress.
How Maritime Trade and the Indian Subcontinent Shaped the World, was acclaimed and shortlisted for the Mountbatten Maritime Literary Award. The Millennium Maritime Revolution 700-1700- How Asia lost Maritime Supremacy was also well reviewed and the forthcoming The Ascent of Maritime Trade 1700–2025 Enlightening the World, set to launch in 2026 is the result of my research and experience. Before this trilogy, I authored The Essential Guide to Chartering and the Dry Freight Market, a trusted resource within the shipping industry. Through these works, I uncover how vibrant ports—from ancient Gujarat to 17th-century Amsterdam and London—fueled wealth, innovation, and philosophy, while neglect led to the decline of powers like Rome, 18th-century Holland, and 20th-century Britain. Drawing on archaeology, ancient texts, and my own experiences, I illuminate the sea’s enduring influence on our world.
Why Subscribe?
This Substack is my invitation to you: a space where I share fresh insights, untold stories, and behind-the-scenes reflections on maritime trade’s impact on history and its relevance today. Here, you’ll find exclusive essays, previews of my upcoming work, and explorations of the ideas that connect past and present—all crafted with the same rigor and passion as my books and delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to join a community of curious minds, dive into the currents of global history, and discover why the sea remains the heartbeat of human progress.
Connect with me
e: nick.collins1953@gmail.com
Twitter/X: @nickcollins1953
Linkedin: nickcollins1953
