A visually stunning exploration of Bruges as a global crossroads: where art, trade, and culture shaped a world city.

Connected Worlds of Bruges (900-1550) reveals the city’s long-standing place at the crossroads of global history. Far from being an isolated medieval town, Bruges has always thrived within a vast network of trade routes, cultural exchange, and political ties that stretched far beyond its borders.

Through a carefully curated selection of remarkable objects, each a testament to historical encounters across continents, this book tells a rich, mosaic-like story of interconnectedness. It invites readers to explore Bruges from fresh and unexpected angles, shedding light on how local and global dynamics have shaped the city’s evolving identity as a world city.

Published to mark the festive opening of the new BRUSK museum in Bruges (Belgium) from 8 may to 6 September 2026.

Peter Frankopan is Professor of Global History at Oxford University, where he is Director of the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research and Senior Research Fellow at Worcester College, Oxford. He is also UNESCO Professor of Silk Roads Studies and a Bye-Fellow at King's College, Cambridge. He works on the history and politics of the Mediterranean, Russia, the Middle East, Persia/Iran, Central Asia, China and beyond - as well as on the histories of climate, natural resources and connectivities.