Global Interactions in the Early Modern Age, 1400–1800
Global Interactions in the Early Modern Age, 1400–1800
Global Interactions in the Early Modern Age is an interdisciplinary introduction to cross-cultural encounters in the early modern age (1400–1800) and their influences on the development of world societies. In the aftermath of Mongol expansion across Eurasia, the unprecedented rise of imperial states in the early modern period set in motion interactions between people from around the world. These included new commercial networks, large-scale migration streams, global biological exchanges, and transfers of knowledge across oceans and continents. These in turn wove together the major regions of the world. In an age of extensive cultural, political, military, and economic contact, a host of individuals, companies, tribes, states, and empires were in competition. Yet they also cooperated with one another, leading ultimately to the integration of global space.
- Focuses on cross-cultural history
- Combats traditional Eurocentric narratives
- Takes an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together religious, cultural, economic, political, social and environmental history
Reviews & endorsements
“In this compelling and lucidly written overview of global interactions during the early modern period, Charles Parker convincingly argues that the ‘integration of global space’ is a defining feature of early modernity. Synthesizing scholarship on trade, migration, biological exchange, and cultural encounters—as well as labor and environmental history—Parker tracks the growth of interdependent inter-continental relationships and the emergence of universal forms of knowledge across the globe.”
—Laura Hostetler, University of Illinois, Chicago
“Charles Parker balances the story of Europe’s Atlantic empires with the contemporary experiences of empire in southern, eastern, and northern Eurasia. He then knits together these imperial centers with chapters on trade, migration, ecology, and culture, providing a trans-Eurasian perspective on four centuries of early-modern world history.”
—Patrick Manning, University of Pittsburgh
“This book fills an increasingly important place in the literature on early modern Europe and globalization. Parker is utterly persuasive when he argues that the early modern period deserves to be singled out in the history of globalization, and the material in this study is presented cogently, sensibly, and quite compellingly.”
—Benjamin Schmidt, University of Washington
“In his Global Interactions, Charles Parker has produced an intelligent, effective and up-to-date synthesis of the new ways in which early modern world history has been reconceptualized. He strikes a balance between elements of political economy and culture, and also takes on board important themes of migration and ecology. This is a balanced, thoughtful and clearly written work that should be used widely in university classrooms.”
—Sanjay Subrahmanyam, University of California, Los Angeles
"Parker's insightful new book examines the myriad influences of cross-cultural encounters in the early modern age and how these encounters impacted early global societies. Recommended." -Choice
"...well organized, clearly written, and covers a multitude of global phenomena." -William E. Burns, Canadian Journal of History
"This book, clearly, will describe ‘sustained interactions’ and ‘interdependent relationships’ (11) rather than the ascendancy of Europe." -European History Quarterly
Product details
June 2010Paperback
9780521688673
272 pages
228 × 153 × 19 mm
0.37kg
7 maps
Available
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Table of Contents
- Introduction: the global integration of space
- 1. European states and overseas empires
- 2. Asian states and territorial empires
- 3. International markets and global exchange networks
- 4. The movement of peoples and diffusion of cultures
- 5. The formation of new demographic and ecological structures
- 6. The transmission of religion and culture
- Conclusion: the landscapes of an altered world.
