ABSTRACT
This book offers a global history of the Indian Ocean and focuses on a holistic perspective of the worlds of water. It builds on maritime historian Michael Naylor Pearson’s works, his unorthodox approach and strong influence on the study of the Indian Ocean in viewing the oceanic space as replete with human experiences and not as an artefact of empire or as the theatre of European commercial and imperial transits focused only on trade.
This interdisciplinary volume presents several ways of writing the history of the Indian Ocean. The chapters explore the changing nature of Indian Ocean history through diverse themes, including state and capital, regional identities, maritime networking, South Asian immigrants, Bay of Bengal linkages, the East India Company, Indian seamen, formal and informal collaboration in imperial networking, scientific transfers, pearling, the issues of colonial copyright, customs, excise and port cities.
The volume will be useful to scholars and researchers of global history, modern history, maritime history, medieval history, Indian history, colonial history and world history.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|31 pages
Historiographies, methodologies and scale in the Indian Ocean
part II|123 pages
Case studies
chapter 7|19 pages
Physicians, surgeons, merchants and healers
part III|74 pages
New histories
chapter 9|21 pages
Hazards and history on the Western Australian coast
chapter 10|18 pages
Landscape, Rajah and wax prints
part IV|22 pages
Reminiscences