Genghis Khan : the accidental empire builder (1162-1227) -- Prince Henry : the explorer who made a science of discovery (1394-1460) -- Robert Clive : the rogue who captured India for the British Empire (1725-1774) -- Mayer Amschel Rothschild : the godfather of global banking (1744-1812) -- Cyrus Field : the tycoon who wired the Atlantic (1819-1892) -- John D. Rockefeller : the titan who built the energy industry and also launched global philanthropy (1839-1937) -- Jean Monnet : the diplomat who reinvented Europe (1888-1979) -- Margaret Thatcher : the iron lady who revived free markets (1925-2013) -- Andrew Grove : the man behind the third industrial revolution (1936-present) -- Deng Xiaoping : the pragmatist who relaunched China (1904-1997) -- The best is yet to come.

The story of globalization, the most powerful force in history, as told through the life and times of ten people who changed the world by their singular, spectacular accomplishments. This is the first book to look at the history of globalization through the lens of individuals who did something transformative, as opposed to describing globalization through trends, policies, or particular industries. From Silk to Silicon tells the story of who these men and women were, what they did, how they did it and how their achievements continue to shape our world today.