A Sea of Debt: Law And Economic Life In The Western Indian Ocean, 1780–1950 (Asian Connections)

In this innovative legal history of economic life in the Western Indian Ocean, Bishara examines the transformations of Islamic law and Islamicate commercial practices during the emergence of modern capitalism in the region. In this time of expanding commercial activity, a mélange of Arab, Indian, Swahili and Baloch merchants, planters, jurists, judges, soldiers and seamen forged the frontiers of a shared world. The interlinked worlds of trade and politics that these actors created, the shared commercial grammars and institutions that they developed and the spatial and socio-economic mobilities they engaged in endured until at least the middle of the twentieth century. This major study examines the Indian Ocean from Oman to India and East Africa over an extended period of time, drawing together the histories of commerce, law and empire in a sophisticated, original and richly textured history of capitalism in the Islamic world. In This Innovative Legal History Of Economic Life In The Western Indian Ocean, Bishara Examines The Transformations Of Islamic Law And Islamicate Commercial Practices During The Emergence Of Modern Capitalism In The Region. In This Time Of Expanding Commercial Activity, A Mélange Of Arab, Indian, Swahili And Baloch Merchants, Planters, Jurists, Judges, Soldiers And Seamen Forged The Frontiers Of A Shared World. The Interlinked Worlds Of Trade And Politics That These Actors Created, The Shared Commercial Grammars And Institutions That They Developed And The Spatial And Socio-economic Mobilities They Engaged In Endured Until At Least The Middle Of The Twentieth Century. This Study Examines The Indian Ocean From Oman To India And East Africa Over An Extended Period Of Time, Drawing Together The Histories Of Commerce, Law And Empire In A Sophisticated, Original And Richly Textured History Of Capitalism In The Islamic World. A Geography Of Obligation -- Life And Debt -- Paper Routes -- Translating Transactions -- Making Africa Indian -- Muslim Mortgages -- Capital Moves -- Unraveling Obligation. Fahad Ahmad Bishara, University Of Virginia. Revision Of The Author's Thesis, Duke University, 2012. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 258-274) And Index. Contents 6 Figures and Tables 7 Acknowledgments 8 Prologue 12 1: A Geography of Obligation 35 2: Life and Debt 69 3: Paper Routes 92 Interlude 118 4: Translating Transactions 136 5: Making Africa Indian 161 6: Muslim Mortgages 180 7: Capital Moves 201 8: Unraveling Obligation 228 Epilogue 257 Bibliography 269 Index 286 Bishara charts the emergence of a trans-oceanic contractual culture, the actors that assembled it, and the legal institutions that shaped it. Analyzing the Western Indian Ocean over an extended period of time, this exceptional volume draws together the regional histories of commerce, law and empire.