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Exploring the Concept of Empire in Pacific History: Individuals, Nations, and Ocean Space Prior to 1850
Author(s) -
Igler David
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
history compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.121
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 1478-0542
DOI - 10.1111/hic3.12199
Subject(s) - empire , scholarship , pacific rim , individualism , pacific ocean , history , world history , psychology , political science , ancient history , oceanography , archaeology , law , geology
The concept of empire pervades most scholarly discussions of transnational and world history, especially for the 18th and 19th centuries. However, empire as an analytical tool has its limitations for explaining the attitudes and behaviors of individuals in the early modern Pacific Ocean. Drawing on recent scholarship by scholars of the United States, Pacific, and world history, this essay highlights the individualistic activities and motivations of American traders and sailors as they sought profit in the Pacific borderlands prior to 1850.