Description
Discover the profound insights of "Shadow Empires," a compelling work that delves into the intricate history of empire creation and its significant consequences from ancient to early modern times. Written by renowned historian Thomas Barfield and published by Princeton University Press, this brand-new book (ISBN: 9780691181639) is bound to become an essential read for anyone interested in the dynamics of empires. This enlightening study explores the lesser-known counterempires that emerged alongside the great empires of the ancient Persians, Chinese, and Romans. Spanning over 2,500 years, Barfield categorizes seven types of these shadow empires, including the nomadic confederacies of Mongolia and the maritime powers like ancient Athens, which controlled trade routes without territorial ambitions.
What distinguishes these counterempires is their strategic interactions with dominant imperial powers, which often spurred their evolution into significant world actors. Historical transformations of shadow empires into major world empires – such as the medieval Muslim Arabs and the Mongolian empire of Chinggis Khan – are dissected with clarity. The book also examines how former shadow empires, like Manchu Qing China, Tsarist Russia, and British India, came to dominate vast regions, all while retaining unique ruling methodologies rooted in their shadow origins.
Perfect for scholars and history enthusiasts alike, "Shadow Empires" provides a fresh perspective on the complexities of empire formation, unveiling the enduring influences of overshadowed states that shaped the course of civilization.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691181639
Format: Trade binding
Year: 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
An original study of empire creation and its consequences, from ancient through early modern times.
The world's first great empires established by the ancient Persians, Chinese, and Romans are well known, but not the empires that emerged on their margins in response to them over the course of 2,500 years. These counterempires or shadow empires, which changed the course of history, include the imperial nomad confederacies that arose in Mongolia and extorted resources from China rather than attempting to conquer it, as well as maritime empires such as ancient Athens that controlled trade without seeking territorial hegemony. In Shadow Empires, Thomas Barfield identifies seven kinds of counterempire and explores their rise, politics, economics, and longevity.
What all these counterempires had in common was their interactions with existing empires that created the conditions for their development. When highly successful, these counterempires left the shadows to become the world's largest empires - for example, those of the medieval Muslim Arabs and of the Mongol heirs of Chinggis Khan. Three former shadow empires - Manchu Qing China, Tsarist Russia, and British India - made this transformation in the late eighteenth century and came to rule most of Eurasia. However, the DNA of their origins endured in their unique ruling strategies. Indeed, world powers still use these strategies today, long after their roots in shadow empires have been forgotten.
Looking afresh at the histories of important types of empires that are often ignored, Shadow Empires provides an original account of empire formation from
What distinguishes these counterempires is their strategic interactions with dominant imperial powers, which often spurred their evolution into significant world actors. Historical transformations of shadow empires into major world empires – such as the medieval Muslim Arabs and the Mongolian empire of Chinggis Khan – are dissected with clarity. The book also examines how former shadow empires, like Manchu Qing China, Tsarist Russia, and British India, came to dominate vast regions, all while retaining unique ruling methodologies rooted in their shadow origins.
Perfect for scholars and history enthusiasts alike, "Shadow Empires" provides a fresh perspective on the complexities of empire formation, unveiling the enduring influences of overshadowed states that shaped the course of civilization.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691181639
Format: Trade binding
Year: 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
An original study of empire creation and its consequences, from ancient through early modern times.
The world's first great empires established by the ancient Persians, Chinese, and Romans are well known, but not the empires that emerged on their margins in response to them over the course of 2,500 years. These counterempires or shadow empires, which changed the course of history, include the imperial nomad confederacies that arose in Mongolia and extorted resources from China rather than attempting to conquer it, as well as maritime empires such as ancient Athens that controlled trade without seeking territorial hegemony. In Shadow Empires, Thomas Barfield identifies seven kinds of counterempire and explores their rise, politics, economics, and longevity.
What all these counterempires had in common was their interactions with existing empires that created the conditions for their development. When highly successful, these counterempires left the shadows to become the world's largest empires - for example, those of the medieval Muslim Arabs and of the Mongol heirs of Chinggis Khan. Three former shadow empires - Manchu Qing China, Tsarist Russia, and British India - made this transformation in the late eighteenth century and came to rule most of Eurasia. However, the DNA of their origins endured in their unique ruling strategies. Indeed, world powers still use these strategies today, long after their roots in shadow empires have been forgotten.
Looking afresh at the histories of important types of empires that are often ignored, Shadow Empires provides an original account of empire formation from