Britain's Oceanic Empire
Atlantic and Indian Ocean Worlds, c.1550–1850

A comparative study of how the British managed the expansion of empire in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean.

H. V. Bowen (Edited by), Elizabeth Mancke (Edited by), John G. Reid (Edited by)

9781107515529, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 14 May 2015

486 pages, 10 maps
22.6 x 15.3 x 2.5 cm, 0.73 kg

'Britain's Oceanic Empire is an informative and engaging book … A variety of contributors to Britain's Oceanic Empire address early modern British colonialism in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans insightfully.' Matthew A. Cook, Journal of British Studies

This pioneering comparative study of British imperialism in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean worlds draws on the perspectives of British newcomers overseas and their native hosts, metropolitan officials and corporate enterprises, migrants and settlers. Leading scholars examine the divergences and commonalities in the legal and economic regimes that allowed Britain to project imperium across the globe. They explore the nature of sovereignty and law, governance and regulation, diplomacy, military relations and commerce, shedding new light on the processes of expansion that influenced the making of empire. While acknowledging the distinctions and divergences in imperial endeavours in Asia and the Americas - not least in terms of the size of indigenous populations, technical and cultural differences, and approaches to indigenous polities - this book argues that these differences must be seen in the context of what Britons overseas shared, including constitutional principles, claims of sovereignty, disciplinary regimes and military attitudes.

1. Introduction: Britain's oceanic empire H. V. Bowen, Elizabeth Mancke and John G. Reid
Part I. The Oceans: 2. Geographies of the British Atlantic world Stephen J. Hornsby
3. Britain in the Indian Ocean region and beyond: contours, connections, and the creation of a global maritime empire H. V. Bowen
Part II. Sovereignty, Law, and Governance: 4. Imperial constitutions: sovereignty and law in the British Atlantic Ken MacMillan
5. Constitutions, contact zones, and imperial ricochets: sovereignty and law in British Asia Robert Travers
6. Company, state, and empire: governance and regulatory frameworks in Asia Philip J. Stern
7. The oriental Atlantic: governance and regulatory frameworks in the British Atlantic world Jerry Bannister
Part III. Diplomatic and Military Relations: 8. Subjects, clients, allies or mercenaries? The British use of Irish and Amerindian military power, 1500–1800 Wayne E. Lee
9. Diplomacy between Britons and Native Americans, c.1600–1830 Eric Hinderaker
10. Diplomacy in India, 1526–1858 Michael H. Fisher
11. Army discipline, military cultures, and state formation in colonial India, 1780–1860 Douglas M. Peers
Part IV. Commercial and Social Relations: 12. Seths and sahibs: negotiated relationships between indigenous capital and the East India Company Lakshmi Subramanian
13. The commercial economy of eastern India under early British rule Rajat Datta
14. Anglo-Amerindian commercial relations Paul Grant-Costa and Elizabeth Mancke
15. Placing British settlement in the Americas in comparative perspective Trevor Burnard
16. Britain's oceanic empire: an afterword H. V. Bowen, Elizabeth Mancke and John G. Reid.

Subject Areas: Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], British & Irish history [HBJD1], General & world history [HBG], History [HB]