Back To Course
Common Core History & Social Studies Grades 9-10: Literacy Standards11 chapters | 54 lessons
Mark Kurlansky's Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World
Instructor:
Kaitlin Oglesby
When you think of animals that helped change the world, you may think of farm animals or even microorganisms. But what about fish? In his book, Mark Kurlansky shows how one fish did just that.
Mundane History
Chances are when you think of history, you think of great people or great ideas. However, as Mark Kurlansky demonstrates in his book Cod: A Biography of a Fish That Changed the World, ordinary items can have a significant impact. In fact, history can be much more mundane, even relating to the foods we eat every day.
In his book, Kurlansky offers a different view of how Western history has progressed over the last thousand years. He argues that the cod made much of the rise of the West possible and shows how it linked the histories of different countries and peoples while still having an effect on us today.
 |
Plot Summary
Throughout the book, Kurlansky shows how cod has played a surprising role in Western history. He starts early, linking the fish to two of Europe's most distinctive cultures. He shows how cod made it possible for the Vikings to sail west from Norway and on to Iceland and Greenland. In fact, he shows how cod was the major motivation for such voyages, since it would mean more profits. An interesting example from the first pages is that of the Basque region near France and Spain. Kurlanksy describes that the Basque's love of cod not only demonstrates the importance of the fish to several cultures, but he also explains it was heavily traded because there were no large cod fisheries near Spain.
As the book continues, Kurlansky links other great events to the history of cod. We learn that cod was as crucial to colonial trade as tea or sugar, and the armies of the North ate plenty of it during the Civil War. As the book draws to a close, Kurlansky looks at the current state of cod and explains how overfishing and ever-rising demand shape humanity's relationship with the fish.
Themes
Humble Fish, Big Impact
Perhaps the biggest theme of Cod: A Biography of a Fish That Changed the World is that a seemingly humble good can still have such a great impact. It causes the reader to think about the impacts of other mundane items. While it may be too early to tell if sliced bread or hamburgers have changed the world as much as cod did, there could be a case for either in a few centuries' time.
A More Connected World
Cod changed the world by helping to connect it. Kurlansky shows that people connect over goods that may not be as important as we first think. The Basque people make cod one of their most important dishes, and the British dish of fish and chips is classically served with cod. However, only one of these cultures has easy access to the fisheries necessary to procure it. As a result, the Basque became adept merchants in no small part because of their national love for cod. Cod was also responsible for pushing open new frontiers in the Americas and making sure the frontiers were connected with the Old World. Cod fisheries off the coast of Canada needed ports in the modern-day Maritime Provinces, as well as New England. The fish from these newly-discovered areas was sent back to the Old World. In fact, the status of the cod market was mentioned by protestors who campaigned against the Stamp Act and the Intolerable Acts.
Two Way Street
Kurlansky also focuses on the relationship between cod and humanity by noting that it is a two-way street. Much of the book discusses humanity's relationship with cod, but what about the impact of humanity on cod populations? Kurlansky explores this by examining dwindling populations of cod and shows that being such a popular fish may not be such a good thing. He looks at how people have tried to ameliorate issues regarding diminishing cod by limiting fishing activities or opting for different fish such as haddock.
Lesson Summary
Cod: A Biography of a Fish That Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky may be a book about a simple fish, but it is a fish that has had an enormous impact on the last thousand years. From motivating the voyages of the Vikings to linking European trade and even being a cause of concern among American colonists in the Revolutionary period, cod has consistently popped above the waterline to make its presence known. Kurlansky also focuses on the impact that humanity has had on cod. He draws attention to overfishing concerns and shows how some groups are trying to repair this relationship.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Register for a free trial
Are you a student or a teacher?
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
BackEarning College Credit
Did you know… We have over 160 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.
To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page
Transferring credit to the school of your choice
Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Study.com has thousands of articles about every imaginable degree, area of study and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you.
You are viewing lesson
Lesson
4 in chapter 11 of the course:
- Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
- Evan S. Connell's Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn
- E.H. Gombrich's The Story of Art, 16th Edition
- Mark Kurlansky's Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World
- Joan Dash's The Longitude Prize: Summary & Themes
- Wendy Thompson's The Illustrated Book of Great Composers
- Charles C. Mann's 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus
- Go to Samples of Informational Texts for CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.10
Mark Kurlansky's Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World Related Study Materials
- ILTS Physical Education (144): Study Guide & Practice
- OSAT Physical Education/Health/Safety (CEOE) (012): Study Guide & Practice
- NYSTCE Physical Education (076): Study Guide & Practice
- ILTS Health Careers (173): Study Guide & Practice
- OSAT Biological Sciences (CEOE) (010): Study Guide & Practice
- Careers in Healthcare
- Flexibility, Strength & Endurance
- Conditioning & Training Principles
- Motor Development & Learning Overview
- Overview of Safety Issues in Physical Education
- AFOQT Cost
- What Does the HESI A2 Nursing Exam Consist of?
- How to Learn Pharmacology for NCLEX
- What Are Considered Higher-Level Questions on the NCLEX?
- How to Study for NCLEx in 2 Weeks
- How Hard Is the ASVAB
- How Long is the HESI A2 Nursing Exam?
Latest Courses
- Lazarillo de Tormes: Summary, Analysis & Theme
- Graphs in Discrete Math: Definition, Types & Uses
- Supplementary & Functional Curriculum: Selection & Implementation
- Scaffolding in Teaching: Tips & Strategies
- Creating a Veteran Recruitment & Hiring Program: Resources & Best Practices
- MySQL Commands: List & Examples
- Creating an Inclusive Workplace Environment for Veterans: Importance & Strategies
- Installing MySQL for Database Programming
- Quiz & Worksheet - Comedy in A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Quiz & Worksheet - Declarative vs. Imperative Sentences
- Quiz & Worksheet - Instruction for Reading & Writing Fluency
- Quiz & Worksheet - Components of a Sewing Machine
- Quiz & Worksheet - How to Assess Leadership in Inclusive Performance Reviews
- Flashcards - Measurement & Experimental Design
- Flashcards - Stars & Celestial Bodies
Latest Lessons
- NY Regents Exam - Physics: Help and Review
- 5th Grade Math: Practice & Review
- Business Ethics Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans
- Statistics 101 Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans
- AP English Literature Textbook
- Saxon Math 8/7 Homeschool: Slope & Line of Symmetry
- OAE: Marketing Channels & Distribution
- Quiz & Worksheet - Writing Effective Sentences for Business Communication
- Quiz & Worksheet - Using Communication Technology Wisely
- Quiz & Worksheet - Historical Ethnic & Religious Conflicts
- Quiz & Worksheet - Institutional Theory in HRM
- Quiz & Worksheet - Complex Zeros of Polynomials
Popular Courses
- American Foreign Policy in the First Indochina War
- Dwarf Mongoose Lesson for Kids: Facts, Habitat & Scientific Name
- Is the FTCE General Knowledge Test Hard?
- Is the FTCE Middle Grades English 5-9 Test Difficult to Take?
- How to Prep for the NYS Physics Regents Exam
- Macbeth Project Ideas
- How to Pass the Earth Science Regents Exam
- Grants for Field Trips
- How to Use the GED Social Studies Prep Course
- Behavior Rubric Examples
- Lyndon B. Johnson and the Vietnam War: Learning Objectives & Activities
- What Do You Learn in Computer Science?
Popular Lessons
Math
Social Sciences
Science
Business
Humanities
Education
History
Art and Design
Tech and Engineering
- Tech and Engineering - Videos
- Tech and Engineering - Quizzes
- Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers
Health and Medicine
Explore our library of over 70,000 lessons
Browse by subject
