The Routledge History of Western Empires

The Routledge History of Western Empires is an all new volume focusing on the history of Western Empires in a comparative and thematic perspective. The 36 chapters by an international range of contributors, build on authors’ original research to present case studies that are then broadened to examine general themes in the history of colonialism, thus providing grounded examples of important topics while opening out discussion to comparative and theoretical considerations.

Divided into six sections the volumes focuses on a number of different themes, controversies, imperial powers, and geographical areas as and when they become prominent within a global context. And covering periods from the Roman Empire to decolonization the volume is divided into six sections:

• The Imperial Project and ideas of Empire
• Regions of Empire 
• People of Empire 
• Imperial Sciences 
• Imperial Culture 
• Decolonisation and After.

With an introduction that explores two themes: why did the Europeans conquer colonies and how the colonial past has been studied, this is the perfect guide for all students of imperial history.

The Routledge History of Western Empires is an all new volume focusing on the history of Western Empires in a comparative and thematic perspective. Comprising of thirty-three original chapters arranged in eight thematic sections, the book explores European overseas expansion from the Age of Discovery to the Age of Decolonisation.

Studies by both well-known historians and new scholars offer fresh, accessible perspectives on a multitude of themes ranging from colonialism in the Arctic to the scramble for the coral sea, from attitudes to the environment in the East Indies to plans for colonial settlement in Australasia. Chapters examine colonial attitudes towards poisonous animals and the history of colonial medicine, evangelisaton in Africa and Oceania, colonial recreation in the tropics and the tragedy of the slave trade.

The Routledge History of Western Empires ranges over five centuries and crosses continents and oceans highlighting transnational and cross-cultural links in the imperial world and underscoring connections between colonial history and world history. Through lively and engaging case studies, contributors not only weigh in on historiographical debates on themes such as human rights, religion and empire, and the ‘taproots’ of imperialism, but also illustrate the various approaches to the writing of colonial history. A vital contribution to the field.