Fish, the symbol of abstinence, becomes the seed of greed.
- The history of Europe and the world changed by herring and 'Fish Day'

Let's start with a couple of questions.

One question.
'How would human history have been different if there were no fish?' If so, it's highly likely that humanity would not have thrived and prospered, let alone survived.
If that were the case, the brilliant civilizations that humanity has achieved over the past several thousand years would not have been born.


Question two.
'How would the power landscape of medieval Europe have changed if herring had not suddenly shifted their spawning grounds and migration routes from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea between the mid-15th and early 16th centuries?' This change led to the decline of the Hanseatic League, which had dominated the European trade market for nearly 200 years along the Baltic Sea.
Afterwards, the Netherlands on the North Sea coast took control of the herring trade and became a hegemonic nation that dominated Europe and the world in the 17th century.


How could changes in the spawning grounds and migration routes of the herring, a common fish measuring about 30 centimeters in length, dramatically alter world history and the balance of power in Europe? The reason was the Christian "fasting day" and "fish day" policies that dominated medieval Europe.
Medieval Christian society strictly observed half of the year as a day of fasting.
It was to prohibit the consumption of 'hot meat', which arouses sexual desire and leads to sin.
Afterwards, fasting days changed from 'no meat day' ('cold meat day') to 'active fish eating day (fish day)', and the demand for fish skyrocketed across Europe.
Huge demand creates huge markets and leads to economic hegemony.
The first and biggest beneficiaries of 'Fish Day' were the merchants of the Baltic coastal cities.
They formed the 'Hanseatic League', monopolized the herring trade, accumulated enormous wealth, and exerted enormous influence, with member cities reaching around 200 at its peak.
The next beneficiary was the Netherlands, which used the salted herring trade as a springboard to conquer Europe and become one of the most powerful nations of its time.


This book is also full of interesting and insightful stories, such as the story of how the Vikings invaded many European countries and built a vast empire by following the herring migration route; the story of John Cabot, who accidentally reached an island in search of the golden island of Zipangu in the late 15th century and triggered the era of new sea routes by discovering schools of cod so large that the sea level rose; and the story of how the ordinary fish, cod, became a symbol and driving force of the spirit of freedom during the American Revolution.

『The Story of the Fish that Changed World History』 is a revised edition of 『10 Medicines that Changed World History』, which was published in May 2018 and was a bestseller in the history category at Kyobo Bookstore for 65 consecutive weeks, and the third book in the "Changed World History" series published by Saramnamusai Publishing, which was published in August 2019 and ranked first in Kyobo Bookstore's "100 History Books that Shined in 2019". The title has been slightly changed and the cover design has been redesigned.

Herring, a migratory fish, sometimes changes its migration route for reasons that are still unknown today.
Interestingly, each time the path changed, the fate of the nation changed.
Scholars cite the change in herring migration routes as a decisive factor in the Vikings' abandonment of their homeland and invasion of Britain.
The unexpected change in the herring's migration route shook the power map of Europe in the 13th to 17th centuries.
In the early 13th century, fishermen discovered a huge school of herring near the Baltic Sea city of Lübeck.
Soon after, fishermen from nearby cities rolled up their sleeves and started catching herring, and the herring trade became active.
As the herring market grew rapidly, merchants in Baltic coastal cities formed alliances to gain greater profits.
The alliance between Lübeck and Hamburg in 1241 was the beginning, which became the origin of the famous Hanseatic League.
The Hanseatic League grew like a snowball rolling down a snowy slope, and soon developed into a massive organization with dozens of cities participating.
The Hanseatic League now held the economic hegemony of Europe, a hegemony that lasted for nearly 200 years.
There is nothing eternal in this world.
There was also a change in the economic hegemony of the Hanseatic League.
The decisive factor was that the herring schools suddenly changed their spawning grounds and migration route from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.
This one small but significant change led to the rapid decline of the Hanseatic League.
And the baton was taken up by the Netherlands, a small country on the North Sea coast.
With this, the Netherlands, a country that had previously been ruled by the powerful Spanish Empire and had no presence, threw off its shackles and emerged as a new power.
The Netherlands has now become a hegemonic power, dominating not only Europe but also the world's oceans.
At the center of all this massive flow was a common fish, the mackerel, measuring 30 centimeters in length.
--- p.10-11 From “Introduction_Did the change in the herring’s migration route change the fate of the nation and turn the tide of European and world history?”

The Vikings then appear to have turned southwest and headed towards East Anglia.
Come to think of it, it is almost identical to the route the Dutch took when they later caught herring in the North Sea.
It can't be anything but amazing.
The Shetland Islands, further northwest of the Orkney Islands, served as a fishing base for numerous vessels and were also under Viking control.
There are several theories about the Vikings' overseas migrations, but all of them are based on speculation rather than historical fact.
SM
Toin argues that:
When the herring schools used the waters off Norway as a migration route, Viking raids on England were at a lull.
This was the situation around the 10th century.
Almost without exception, the cities and regions that the Vikings invaded and colonized were places where herring fishing was active.
After meticulously researching various sources, Toyin concluded that the routes taken by the Vikings when they invaded various European countries coincided exquisitely with the fishing grounds and sea routes of the Dutch who later caught herring in the North Sea.
The change in the herring's migration route has actually influenced the rise and fall of several countries since then.
Although herring was not the only reason for the Vikings' migrations (S.
M. Toindo did not claim that the Vikings migrated solely for the sake of herring) and it is not surprising that they were in some way closely related to it.
--- p.29-30 「Main Text_1.
"The change in the herring's migration route changed the power map of Europe and determined the rise and fall of many countries?"

The Netherlands amassed enormous wealth through trade, overwhelming other European nations.
The Dutch success story began with the full-scale supply of 'salted herring' on behalf of the Hanseatic League.
In that sense, it is no exaggeration to say that Willem Benkelsoor's 'Salted Herring' is one of the great inventions that changed world history.
In this context, can we not simply laugh off the story that Charles V, who is praised as one of the greatest monarchs in European history, visited his tomb and dismiss it as an absurd tale created and fleshed out by someone later?
The Netherlands laid the foundation for its development during the period when Willem Benkelsoor was active.
Scholars estimate that it dates back to around the 14th century.
Around that time, the country had made remarkable progress in the technology of salting herring, thanks to the efforts of great craftsmen, engineers, and skilled workers such as Willem Benkelsoor.
This made it possible to preserve herring, which previously would rot, rot, and stink after just a few days, in a fresh state for over a year.
The fact that the anecdotes and legends of Willem Benkelsoor became widely known throughout the world was also due to the remarkable growth and development of the Netherlands that followed.
--- p.46-47 「Main Text_3.
From Willem Benkelsoor's "Salted Herring Changed World History"

How did John Cabot learn about the country of "Zipangu," or Japan? It's said he synthesized and analyzed information he received from caravan merchants while stationed in Mecca.
At that time, Japan, located at the edge of Asia, was often regarded by Westerners as a land of opportunity that gave rise to fantasies.
In fact, there is no way of knowing exactly where in North America John Cabot landed.
According to the official views of the English and Canadian governments, it is the port of Bonavista on the island of Newfoundland.
However, this is also only a guess and there is no definitive evidence.
Anyway, Cabot didn't find the 'Panggu' there.
He couldn't find the jewels or spices he so desperately wanted.
Instead, he discovered a huge school of cod there, seemingly bulging out of the sea surface.
Sonchino wrote in his letter:

They say the sea is teeming with fish.
They say there are so many fish that there is no need to cast nets to catch them.
Even a basket made of stones hung in the water to let them sink could catch a lot of fish. … … John Cabot’s fellow Englishmen said that if England could catch such a huge amount of fish, it would no longer need Iceland.
Instead, Iceland can import large quantities of a fish called 'stockfish'.

The following year, John Cabot set out on his third voyage, but little is known about the details of the voyage.
According to one account, unfortunately, Cabot was shipwrecked on that voyage.
There is also another theory that he returned to England in 1500.
Anyway, after his third voyage, John Cabot disappeared forever into the darkness of history.
As early as the early 16th century, French and Portuguese fishing boats arrived off the coast of Newfoundland and began catching cod.
But for some reason, the English fishermen didn't move at all, as if they had covered Iceland with honey.
For reference, John Cabot's son, John Sebastian, followed in his father's footsteps and sailed across the northern part of the North American continent to find the 'Northwest Passage' to Asia, and returned.
This happened between 1508 and 1509.
During that voyage, Sebastian is said to have discovered the Hudson River.
--- p.156-158 「Main Text_16.
From "John Cabot's discovery of the 'cod shoal' in North America changed the history of the era of new sea routes"

The fish in the New Testament symbolize God's merciful heart for the poor.
This sacredness of fish was first revealed through herring and then continued to be expressed through cod.
If fishing hadn't developed, would the Western world have been able to grow its population to its current level? It's highly unlikely.
Meat production naturally increased proportionally as the colony expanded rapidly.
Meanwhile, herring and cod have continuously demonstrated to the world the meaning of fish in the New Testament as a valuable source of protein that even the poor can eat on their tables.
The case of the Pilgrim Fathers is merely an incident in which the symbolism of fish is expressed in a somewhat unusual way.
Today the fish has been given a new sacredness.
This is the concept of 'freedom', which is a core value in the political ideology of democracy, which is derived from Christianity.
As Adam Smith said, this 'freedom' became the cornerstone of the fishermen's happiness and the prosperity of New England.
The oral tradition among New England fishermen can be seen as a result of these two sacred properties of fish.
The sacred cod sculpture, which still watches over the proceedings in the Massachusetts State House, is an extension of the religious, economic, and military roles of fish in the Western world.
And I think one of those destinations symbolizes democracy.
For fishermen who viewed with discomfort the regulations and oppression of the state and the merchant class with large capital, wasn't democracy the political system that absolutely had to be implemented?
In that context, Massachusetts' sacred cod will continue to swim leisurely in the sea of ​​history for a long time to come.
--- p.234-235 「Text_27.
"The political consciousness of New England cod fishermen advanced democracy?"

As people stopped observing Fish Day, fishing ports became deserted and declined.
This change happened very rapidly.
Soon the fishing village became noticeably desolate.
This change occurred less than a year or two after Henry VIII closed the monasteries, which were the main consumers of fish.
In line with this, in 1541, Parliament passed a law prohibiting the importation into England of fish purchased abroad and at sea for sale.
As the fishing industry declined, the English government stopped importing fish from other countries.
Sir William Cecil conducted a thorough investigation of the fishing industry among fish merchants in London.
It was during the reign of Edward VI (reigned 1547-1553), who succeeded Henry VIII as king.
According to reports from merchants at the time, around 1529, the 20th year of Henry VIII's reign, 440 fishing vessels were out fishing.
However, in 1552 and 1553, when the investigation was conducted, the number plummeted to 133 ships.
The decline of the fishing industry at that time directly led to the decline of naval power.
For England, an island nation, a decline in naval power meant a decline in national defense.
At that time, the fishing industry was no different from a ‘naval training camp.’
When war broke out, fishermen received basic military training and were immediately assigned to the navy to serve.
That wasn't all.
At the time, when warships were not yet sufficiently equipped, fishing boats were often requisitioned and used as warships.
In fact, the system of using fishing boats as warships during wartime continued until relatively recently.
As a concrete example, during World War II, the British government requisitioned cod-fishing trawlers as minesweepers and deployed them to the battlefield.
The war did not only have a negative impact on the fishing industry.
This is because the number of cod has always naturally increased sharply during wartime.
This was because many countries were so preoccupied with war that cod fishing was virtually halted.
After the war, just as the cold winter passed and the warm spring came, the fishing industry also began to recover and entered a boom period.
The aforementioned 1541 law was intended to protect the country's fishermen.
Four years later, the law was revised again.
And again, during the reign of Edward VI and Queen Mary, it was revised.
Even during the reign of Elizabeth I, several laws were enacted and implemented with the same purpose.
Historians generally agree that the Reformation was the primary cause of the decline of the English fishing industry during this period.
Another reason cited is the development of the fishing industry in the neighboring Netherlands.
The Netherlands and England are located across the sea from each other.
This phenomenon can only be called an 'irony of history.'
The impact of the Reformation on Dutch society was much greater than that of England.
Anyway, the spark of the Reformation eventually spread like wildfire and led to the Dutch War of Independence, which was a war for independence from Spain, the leader of Catholicism.

--- p.269-271 「Text_33.
From "The decline of Fish Day leads to the decline of England's fishing industry, and the decline of the fishing industry leads to the decline of national defense (naval power)"