Imperial Meridian: The British Empire and the World, 1780-1830 (Studies in Modern History)

This is a book for students of modern British history and all those interested in it concentrating on an oft-ignored period in the history of the British Empire - the emergence and decline of the Second Empire between 1780 and 1830. The book examines the effect of "empire" not only in the regions colonized: Asia and the Middle East; but also on domestic politics and society and on the existing colonies, such as Ireland, Australia and Southern Africa. In this impressive and ambitious survey Dr Bayly studies the rise, apogee and decline of what has come to be called 'the Second British Empire' -- the great expansion of British dominion overseas (particularly in Asia and the Middle East) during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic era that, coming between the loss of America and the subsequent partition of Africa, constitutes the central phase of British imperial history. List of Maps Glossary Abbreviations Preface Introduction 1. Political and Social Change in the Muslim Empires, 1600-1800 Stages of change in Muslim Asia and North Africa The Muslim empires: integration and uniformities The Muslim empires: contrasts and comparisons The nature of 'decline' Population, consumption and commercialisation Asian routes to commercial agriculture The rise of the provincial elites 2. Crisis and Reorganisation in Muslim Asia Imperial dissolution and tribal 'breakout': Stage 2 The sequence of 'breakouts' The sociology of 'tribal breakout Ideological challenges and the reconstruction of orthodoxy The new states of the mid-eighteenth century: Stage 3 Building regional identities Asian 'mercantilism' The Asian crisis and European power Colonialism or constrained independence? Wars of 'monopoly' in southeast Asia Southeast Asia: a frontier for European and Chinese expansion The fall of Mataram and the rise of the Companies Port kings and merchants: Malaysia and south India Monopoly and state-building in Ceylon 'Proto-capitalism' in Asia and European imperialism 3. War, Empire and the Colonies of Settlement to 1790 The 'British Empire in Europe Inverted patriotism: the case of Scotland Aborted integration: Ireland in the eighteenth century The Atlantic empire: disintegration and survival The imperial crisis and international war, 1776-83 4. Britain's New Imperial Age Lineaments of the new empire Crown and nation at home and abroad An imperial revolution in government? 'Agrarian patriotism' and the 'British Empire in Europe' An imperial army and police 5. Imperial Britain: Personnel and Ideas The imperial elite and gentry resurgence The Church militant, race and law Racial hierarchy and benevolence Agrarian patriotism and freehold Conclusion 6 The World Crisis, 1780-1820 Dimensions of conflict Ideologies and ethnicities Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Christian revivalism and the 'wreck of nations' Islam in contest Economic disruption and world crisis Conclusion 7. Proconsular Despotisms: the British Empire, c. 1800-40 The proconsular regimes Ireland and the Mediterranean Southern Africa Canada, Australia and the Caribbean The 'Regency Empire in the East': India, Indonesia and Ceylon 8. Colonial Society in the Early Nineteenth Century Land, labour and trade Social involution and the reconstruction of bondage New fields for indigenous capital The new states alongside the British colonial world The decline of the Second British Empire, 1830-60 Conclusion Select Bibliography Index In This Impressive And Ambitious Survey Dr Bayly Studies The Rise, Apogee And Decline Of What Has Come To Be Called `the Second British Empire' -- The Great Expansion Of British Dominion Overseas (particularly In Asia And The Middle East) During The French Revolutionary And Napoleonic Era That, Coming Between The Loss Of America And The Subsequent Partition Of Africa, Constitutes The Central Phase Of British Imperial History. C.a. Bayly. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 257-273. In this impressive survey Dr. Bayly studies the rise, apogee and decline of what has come to be called 'the Second British Empire' - the great expansion of British dominion overseas during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic era that, coming between the loss of America and the subsequent partition of Africa, India, Java and Australasia.