A Timely Look Back at the Era That Shaped Our World
Thousands of years of recorded history show that the main way in which
human societies have been organized is as empires. Today, the evidence
of recent European overseas empire's lasting effects is all around us:
from international frontiers and fusion cuisine to multiplying apologies
for colonial misdeeds. European Overseas Empire, 1879-1999: A Short
History explores the major events in this critical period that continue
to inform and affect our world today.
New access to archives and a renewed interest in the most recent era of
European overseas empire building and the decolonization that followed
have produced a wealth of fascinating information that has recharged
perennial debates and shed new light on topics previously considered
settled . At the same time, current events are once again beginning to
echo the past, bringing historical perspective into the spotlight to
guide our actions going forward. This book examines our collective past,
providing new insight and fresh perspectives as it:
- Traces current events to their roots in the European overseas
imperialism of the 19th and 20th centuries
- Challenges the notion of political, cultural, social, and economic
exchanges of the era as being primarily "Europe-outward"
- Examines the complexity and contingency of colonial rule, and the
range of outcomes for the various territories involved
- Explores the power dynamics of overseas empires, and their legacies
that continue to shape the world today