Borderless Empire: Dutch Guiana in the Atlantic World,

Borderless Empire: Dutch Guiana in the Atlantic World, 1750–1800 (Early American Places)

Borderless Empire explores the volatile history of Dutch Guiana, in particular the forgotten colonies of Essequibo and Demerara, to provide new perspectives on European empire building in the Atlantic world. Bram Hoonhout argues that imperial expansion was a process of improvisation at the colonial level rather than a project that was centrally orchestrated from the metropolis. Furthermore, he emphasizes that colonial expansion was far more transnational than the oft-used divisions into â‚¬Å“national Atlanticsâ‚¬Â suggest. In so doing, he transcends the framework of the â‚¬Å“Dutch Atlanticâ‚¬Â by looking at the connections across cultural and imperial boundaries.
The openness of Essequibo and Demerara affected all levels of the colonial society. Instead of counting on metropolitan soldiers, the colonists relied on Amerindian allies, who captured runaway slaves and put down revolts. Instead of waiting for Dutch slavers, the planters bought enslaved Africans from foreign smugglers. Instead of trying to populate the colonies with Dutchmen, the local authorities welcomed adventurers from many different origins. The result was a borderless world in which slavery was contingent on Amerindian support and colonial trade was rooted in illegality. These transactions created a colonial society that was far more Atlantic than Dutch.
Country USA
Brand University of Georgia Press
Manufacturer University of Georgia Press
Binding Hardcover
ReleaseDate 2019-10-31
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780820356082

Country	USA
Brand	University of Georgia Press
Manufacturer	University of Georgia Press
Binding	Hardcover
ReleaseDate	2019-10-31
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780820356082

Borderless Empire: Dutch Guiana in the Atlantic World, 1750–1800 (Early American Places)

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