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Empires and Colonies

ISBN: 978-0-745-62613-0

December 2007

Polity

384 pages

Description
Empires and Colonies provides a thoroughgoing and lively exploration of the expansion of the seaborne empires of western Europe from the fifteenth century and how that process of expansion affected the world,
including its successor, the United States.

Whilst providing special attention to Europe, the book is careful to highlight the ambivalence and contradiction of that expansion. The book also illuminates connections between empires and colonies as a theme in history, concentrating on culture while also discussing the rich social, economic and political dimensions of the story.

Furthermore, Empires and Colonies recognizes that whilst a study of the expansion of Europe is an important part of world history, it is not a history of the world per se. The focus on culture is used to assert that areas and peoples
that lack great economic power at any given time also deserve attention. These alternative voices of slaves, indigenous peoples and critics of empire and colonization are an important and compelling element of the book.

Empires and Colonies will be essential reading not only for students of imperial history, but also for anyone interested in the makings of our modern world.

About the Author
Jonathan Hart is Professor of English, Director of Comparative Literature and Adjunct Professor of History at the University of Alberta.
Features

  • A thorough exploration of the expansion of Western empires from the fifteenth century to the present day
  • Provides an invaluable overview of the history of Western civilisation that will be ideal for student use
  • Gives full attention to the alternative voices of slaves, indigenous peoples and critics of empire and colonisation to highlight the counter-history
  • Stresses key themes in the story of empires and colonies, such as economics, religion, culture and technology
  • Will be essential reading not only for students of imperial history but also anyone interested in the makings of the modern world