For over 3000 years, the Mediterranean has been one of the most important centers of global civilization. From the time of Troy until the mid-19th century, human activity in the Mediterranean region has played a crucial role in shaping world history.

"The Great Sea" by David Abulafia is the first complete historical study of the enduring adventure of the peoples of the Mediterranean from the time of the construction of the mysterious temple in Malta around 3500 B.C. to the recent re-invention of the Mediterranean coasts as a tourist destination.

Abulafia describes those cities that had a particular influence or were identified with specific historical periods - cities like Alexandria, Venice, and Thessaloniki. He attributes their flourishing to their ability to become centers of coexistence for many different peoples, religions, and national identities.

Furthermore, he presents the history of specific populations as well as personalities that bring vibrancy and immediacy to the broader developments discussed in the book - e.g., Muslim and Jewish pilgrims heading east from 12th-century Spain, kings of Sicily, Ottoman sultans, and admirals from Britain, France, and tsarist Russia.

"The Great Sea" spans the unique expanse of the Mediterranean, from Gibraltar to Syria, from Genoa to Tunisia, emphasizing conflict and contrast in national, linguistic, religious, and political terms. Thus, it maps out how the Mediterranean became "perhaps the most suitable space for the interaction of cultures and peoples throughout the planet".