Empires and bureaucracy in world history : from late antiquity to the twentieth century

"How did empires rule different peoples across vast expanses of space and time? And how did small numbers of imperial bureaucrats govern large numbers of subordinated peoples? Empires and Bureaucracy in World History seeks answers to these fundamental problems in imperial studies by exploring the power and limits of bureaucracy. The book is pioneering in bringing together historians of antiquity and the Middle Ages with scholars of post-medieval European empires, while a genuinely world-historical perspective is provided by chapters on China, the Incas and the Ottomans. The editors identify a paradox in how bureaucracy operated on the scale of empires and so help explain why some empires endured for centuries while, in the contemporary world, empires fail almost before they begin. By adopting a cross-chronological and world-historical approach, the book challenges the abiding association of bureaucratic rationality with 'modernity' and the so-called 'Rise of the West'" ... "The book is pioneering in bringing together historians of antiquity and the Middle Ages with scholars of post-medieval European empires, while a genuinely world-historical perspective is provided by chapters on China, the Incas and the Ottomans. The editors identify a paradox in how bureaucracy operated on the scale of empires and so help explain why some empires endured for centuries while, in the contemporary world, empires fail almost before they begin" .. How Did Empires Rule Different Peoples Across Vast Expanses Of Space And Time? And How Did Small Numbers Of Imperial Bureaucrats Govern Large Numbers Of Subordinated Peoples? Empires And Bureaucracy In World History Seeks Answers To These Fundamental Problems In Imperial Studies By Exploring The Power And Limits Of Bureaucracy. The Book Is Pioneering In Bringing Together Historians Of Antiquity And The Middle Ages With Scholars Of Post-medieval European Empires, While A Genuinely World-historical Perspective Is Provided By Chapters On China, The Incas And The Ottomans. The Editors Identify A Paradox In How Bureaucracy Operated On The Scale Of Empires And So Help Explain Why Some Empires Endured For Centuries While, In The Contemporary World, Empires Fail Almost Before They Begin. By Adopting A Cross-chronological And World-historical Approach, The Book Challenges The Abiding Association Of Bureaucratic Rationality With 'modernity' And The So-called 'rise Of The West'-- The Book Is Pioneering In Bringing Together Historians Of Antiquity And The Middle Ages With Scholars Of Post-medieval European Empires, While A Genuinely World-historical Perspective Is Provided By Chapters On China, The Incas And The Ottomans. The Editors Identify A Paradox In How Bureaucracy Operated On The Scale Of Empires And So Help Explain Why Some Empires Endured For Centuries While, In The Contemporary World, Empires Fail Almost Before They Begin-- 1. Empires, Bureaucracy And The Paradox Of Power / Peter Crooks And Timothy H. Parsons. Part Ii. Empires And Bureaucracy In World-historical Perspective: 2. China As A Contrasting Case: Bureaucracy And Empire In Song China / Patricia Ebrey -- 3. Conflict And Cooperation Between Arab Rulers And Persian Administrators In The Formative Period Of Islamdom, C.600-950 Ce / I.t. Kristo-nagy. 4. Bureaucracy Without Alphabetic Writing: Governing The Inca Empire, C.1438-1532 / Chris Given-wilson -- 5. The Ottoman Empire (1299-1923): The Bureaucratization Of Patrimonial Authority / Karen Barkey. Part Iii. From Late Antiquity To The Middle Ages: 6. 'the Late Roman Empire Was Before All Things A Bureaucratic State.' / Michael Whitby -- 7. Bureaucracies, Elites And Clans: The Case Of Byzantium, C.600-1100 / John Haldon -- 8. Charlemagne And Carolingian Military Administration / Bernard S. Bachrach -- 9. Bureaucracy, The English State And The Crisis Of The Angevin Empire, 1199-1205 / John Gillingham -- 10. The Parchment Imperialists: Texts, Scribes, And The Medieval Western Empire, C.1250-c.1440 / Len Scales -- 11. Before Humpty Dumpty: The First English Empire And The Brittleness Of Bureaucracy, 1259-1453 / Peter Crooks. Part Iv. From The Age Of European Expansion To The End Of Empires: 12. Magistrates To Administrators, Composite Monarchy To Fiscal-military Empire: Empire And Bureaucracy In The Spanish Monarchy, C.1492-1825 / Christopher Storrs -- 13. Britain's Overseas Empire Before 1780: Overwhelmingly Successful And Bureaucratically Challenged / Jack P. Greene -- 14. 'les Enfants Du Siecle': An Empire Of Young Professionals And The Creation Of Bureaucratic, Imperial Ethos In Napoleonic Europe / Michael Broers -- 15. Bureaucracy, Power And Violence In Colonial India: The Role Of Indian Subalterns / Deana Heath -- 16. From Chief To Technocrat: Labour And Colonial Authority In Post-world War Ii Africa / Frederick Cooper -- 17. The Unintended Consequences Of Bureaucratic 'modernization' In Post-world War Ii British Africa / Timothy H. Parsons. Part V. Afterword: 18. Empires And Bureaucracy: Means Of Appropriation And Media Of Communication / Sam Whimster. Edited By Peter Crooks, Trinity College Dublin, The University Of Dublin ; And Timothy H. Parsons, Washington University In St Louis. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 01.0_pp_i_iv_Frontmatter 02.0_pp_v_vii_Contents 03.0_pp_viii_viii_List_of_Figures 04.0_pp_ix_ix_List_of_Maps 05.0_pp_x_x_List_of_Tables 06.0_pp_xi_xii_List_of_Contributors 07.0_pp_xiii_xvi_Preface 08.0_pp_xvii_xxii_List_of_Abbreviations 09.0_pp_1_2_Introduction 09.1_pp_3_28_Empires_Bureaucracy_and_the_Paradox_of_Power 10.0_pp_29_30_Empires_and_Bureaucracy_in_World-Historical_Perspective 10.1_pp_31_53_China_as_a_Contrasting_Case_Bureaucracy_and_Empire_in_Song_China 10.2_pp_54_80_Conflict_and_Cooperation_between_Arab_Rulers_and_Persian_Administrators_in_the_Formative_Period_of_I 10.3_pp_81_101_Bureaucracy_without_Alphabetic_Writing_Governing_the_Inca_Empire_c14381532 10.4_pp_102_126_The_Ottoman_Empire_12991923_The_Bureaucratization_of_Patrimonial_Authority 11.0_pp_127_128_From_Late_Antiquity_to_the_Middle_Ages 11.1_pp_129_146_The_Late_Roman_Empire_Was_before_All_Things_a_Bureaucratic_State 11.2_pp_147_169_Bureaucracies_Elites_and_Clans_The_Case_of_Byzantium_c6001100 11.3_pp_170_196_Charlemagne_and_Carolingian_Military_Administration 11.4_pp_197_220_Bureaucracy_the_English_State_and_the_Crisis_of_the_Angevin_Empire_11991205 11.5_pp_221_249_The_Parchment_Imperialists_Texts_Scribes_and_the_Medieval_Western_Empire_c1250c1440 11.6_pp_250_288_Before_Humpty_Dumpty_The_First_English_Empire_and_the_Brittleness_of_Bureaucracy_12591453 12.0_pp_289_290_From_the_Age_of_European_Expansion_to_the_End_of_Empires 12.1_pp_291_317_Magistrates_to_Administrators_Composite_Monarchy_to_Fiscal-Military_Empire_Empire_and_Bureaucracy_in 12.2_pp_318_343_Britains_Overseas_Empire_before_1780_Overwhelmingly_Successful_and_Bureaucratically_Challenged 12.3_pp_344_363_Les_Enfants_du_Siecle_An_Empire_of_Young_Professionals_and_the_Creation_of_a_Bureaucratic_Imperial_E 12.4_pp_364_390_Bureaucracy_Power_and_Violence_in_Colonial_India_The_Role_of_Indian_Subalterns 12.5_pp_391_411_From_Chief_to_Technocrat_Labour_and_Colonial_Authority_in_PostWorld_War_II_Africa 12.6_pp_412_434_The_Unintended_Consequences_of_Bureaucratic_Modernization_in_PostWorld_War_II_British_Africa 13.0_pp_435_436_Afterword