Stern, Philip J. “British Asia and British Atlantic: Comparisons and Connections.” The William and Mary Quarterly vol.63 no.4 (2006) 693-712.
Philip J. Stern (an assistant professor of history at American University) discusses the similarities and connections between British Asia and British Atlantic in “British Asia and British Atlantic: Comparisons and Connections.” Stern hopes to prove in his article that historians’ tendency to highlight the distinctions between the Atlantic and Asia has facilitated inaccurate and incomplete accounts of early modern Britons’ overseas experience. Stern’s primary sources are state papers, court records, letters, speeches, and proclamations such as letters of James Knight and James II’s Declaration concerning
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Stern begins his article by asserting that the concept of the British Atlantic World has enabled historians to become liberated from the idea of the “nation” and “state” (693). Historians focus on the connections in respective oceanic basins rather than focus their study on how oceans are connected. Stern argues that the relationship between British Asia and the British Atlantic was multifaceted. Focusing on the interactions between British Atlantic and British Asia can help scholars better understand the Atlantic and Asia, while highlighting the connections between these regions. The study of the connections and comparisons between British Atlantic and British Asia is imperative because it undermines British and American exceptionalism, shows that the British Empire intended to be in Asia, demonstrates the continuities between the British Empire, British India, and the United States, and encourages historians to appreciate the complexities of early modern history. Stern contends that the comparison between the East India Company and American colonial enterprises shows how historians can explore British involvement in Asia and the Atlantic. The Darian Company linked Europe and Asia through Panama. Stern
In this week’s chapter The Atlantic World which introduces the history from prehistory through 1566, there were two themes that stand out for me which are: The Big “C”s, Conquest, Commerce, Colonization, & Conversion and Race. The history resembles on the European expansion and the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus. Christopher Columbus was the first person to discover the American continent. The New World was another name given to America. The American territory differed in social, economically and politically. America was divided by three societies: Aztecs, Mayan and Incan which belonged to urban societies. Colonization was a breakthrough for both continents. They adaptation was about to begin, there were new things that one continent had
The Battle of the Atlantic During WWII, the Germans attempted to force Britain into surrender by preventing vital supplies from reaching her across the Atlantic Ocean. Explain why by mid 1943, the British had gained the upper hand in the Atlantic. The Battle of the Atlantic was a key event in deciding the outcome of WWII. The Atlantic was Britain's lifeline, the only route to the great 'factory' that was the USA with it's vast production capabilities.
Economic and financial concerns have a clear link to Britain’s relationship with her African empire over the period 1870-1980. During different time frames within the period; expansion, colonisation and decolonisation economic and finance hold different amounts of weight due to events which mark turning points in the relationship e.g. World Wars. Strategic and cultural are also clear concerns which effect the relation which I will evaluate.
Joint-stock company: Joint-stock companies are companies made up of shareholders, who all invest in this company and receives some of the profits and debts. Joint-stock companies opposed the strict, traditional European economic standards which revolved around just prices, where profiting was looked down upon, and reciprocity, in which trade was for mutual benefit. However, this created problems, where investors were more and more determined to acquire more shares, creating more tension between social classes, as the rich became richer and the poor became poorer.
The Vanguard of the Atlantic World by James Sanders seems to do little more than reiterate the concept that American republican modernity was debated by various countries located in Latin America in regards to their status as a united global political power. Not to say that these nations were united in terms of alliances, or treaties, but rather that some intellectuals adopted the concept of a “sisterhood” of republic democracies. The analysis of the political systems in Latin America after their independence from European nations is not where the disappointment lies, but rather the lack of context given to various components in his research that were supposed to show the transition of Latin America during its state of transformation from colonial territories to independent republican nations.
Great Britain is a country founded by a union, the Act of Union, of 1707, states that England and Scotland should be united into one kingdom which they named Great Britain! Even though it has been many years since the 19th and 20th century many facts have not changed from that time. Great Britain till this day is part of the greatest powers of allies of the world. In this paper we are going to talk about the alliance system and about the new imperialism in Great Britain by answering a few questions. First, what alliances did Great Britain belong to and who were their primarily allies and what were
Chapter 2 “The Rise of the Atlantic World” Footholds in North America Spain’s Northern Frontier • Spanish got their New World empire started by crushing Aztecs and Incas • Juan Ponce de Leon o Founded Puerto Rico and Florida o Killed by Native Americans (Calusa) • 300 settlers provoked Apalachee Natives o Split into groups 4 survivors – Cabeza de Vaca and company arrive in Mexico De Vaca made alliances with Natives along the way Inspired other Spaniards to go look for gold • Hernando de Soto o In search of gold in Tampa Bay-Appalachian Mtns-southern Plains o Natives confronted him in Mississippi (Maliba) De Soto won, but his victory cost him lots of resources o Found no gold, but spread diseases that killed Native Americans in Mississippi
There were many changes and continuities within the Atlantic world. The first and biggest change was the change in the caste system in Mexico. The next big change was the slaves in which they exchanged in the Americas. The final change was the change mercantilism to capitalism in Europe.
The study of the Atlantic as an interwoven community is a relatively new theory. Historians are beginning to see Atlantic History as “a sudden and harsh encounter between two old worlds that transformed both and integrated them into a single New World” , and not just separate entities with detached pasts. Atlantic History: Concept and Contours by Bernard Bailyn lays the framework for what Atlantic History is and how it should be studied. Bailyn states that the reasoning behind writing the book is that previous historians focus too much on the imperial history of the Atlantic world, when in fact the colonized areas had just as much of an effect on European powers as Europe had on their colonies. In this concise two part book, Bailyn’s main argument is that the concept of Atlantic History was inevitable because it is impossible to look at any major event of this time period without seeing its effects ripple throughout the entire Atlantic world.
The year 1942 marked a division in the contemporary world history. There were a number of developments that would bring enormous effects for the Old and the New World Wars. The discovery of these developments changed the diets of both the western and eastern regions, assisted in initiating the Atlantic slave trade, and spread illnesses that had a destructive effect on populations in India, and resulted in the creation of European colonies across the Western region (Cohen and Rosenzwei 124). This paper is focused on establishing the main events that made England to gain control over the Atlantic and establishing settlements in North America. The paper
Furthermore, this experience led to the discovery that the key to success is control over regions that produced valuable goods, since control over trade routes ultimately leads to their change.1 China with its warfare and seafaring technology never claimed to take control over the sea even after Zheng He’s voyages, since they had enough, if not more resources than everyone else, unlike Europe. The conclusive thought is that Europeans were poor, and in order for them to succeed in an otherwise rich world, force was the only option. The bias is therefore in the fact that Europeans had no
In the fall of 1931, the Atlantic Ocean was the boiling point of a criminal battle between the British and Germans. Most people think that the Battle of the Atlantic may have decided World War II’s outcome. This battle was the dominating factor throughout the war. The Battle of the Atlantic was a violent and destructive battle. Many people lost their lives fighting in this battle. New technology was one of the major factors in the Allies winning the long and crucial Battle of the Atlantic.
If there was ever an important period historians, and people could put a finger on, this would be it. This is the important period where the world’s countries, kingdoms, and dynasties established trade routes. This is the period where countries were made and countries were destroyed because of the importance of trade and the importance of building a fundamental, religious, and economical way of life. This paper will discuss the goals and functions of trades, and traders, and a historical analysis of world trade. This paper will also get into world trade patterns, of The Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, The Indian Ocean, The Silk routes, China and The South China Sea, Europe and The Mediterranean, and The Atlantic Exploration.
In John K. Thornton’s book, A Cultural History of the Atlantic World, 1250 – 1820, Thornton describes the exploration of the western world by powerful European nations. Early on in the text Thornton details the ways early European merchants and explorers discovered the routes across the Atlantic to what would eventually become the Americas. He then lays out the formation and expansion of the slave trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Throughout all of this Thornton very effectively communicates and disproves any common mistakes or false presumptions readers may have. He continues to do this when he switches his focus from the discovery of the Atlantic world to the colonization of it. Thornton explains how the two major European powers in the Atlantic world at that time, England and Spain, “conquered” and colonized the new world. He especially focuses on the relationships between the native peoples and the incoming Europeans. He explores the ways both groups effected each other. He goes on to state that the way in which the social structure of the European colonies was determine in large measure by the social structure of the indigenous people at the time of European arrival. This serves as Thornton’s thesis of the text and he provides evidence to support his claim. He also mentions that most of the time the story of the Atlantic World is told from an exclusively European perspective. And while he does try to include all aspects in the narrative I’m not totally
Think about the MORAL model. After reviewing your peers’ comments, has your thinking about the issue changed? Why or why not.