Encyclopedia of the Atlantic World, 1400–1900
Europe, Africa, and the Americas in an Age of Exploration, Trade, and Empires [2 volumes]
By: David Head
About This Book
A first-of-its-kind reference resource traces the interactions among four Atlantic-facing continents—Europe, Africa, and the Americas (including the Caribbean)—between 1400 and 1900. Until recently, the age of exploration and empire building was researched and taught within imperial and national boundaries. The histories of Europe, Africa, North America, and South America were told largely as independent stories, with the development of individual places within each continent further separated from each other. The indigenous populations of places colonized by Europeans fit into the history even more uneasily, often mentioned only in passing. Encyclopedia of the Atlantic World, 1400–1900 synthesizes a generation of historical scholarship on the events on four continents, providing readers an invaluable introduction to the major people, places, events, movements, objects, concepts, and commodities of the Atlantic world as it developed during a key period in history when the world first started to shrink. The entries discuss specific topics with an eye toward showing how individual items, people, and events were connected to the larger Atlantic world. This accessibly written reference book brings together topics usually treated separately and discretely, alleviating the need for extra legwork when researching, and it draws from the latest research to make a vast body of scholarship about seemingly far-flung places available to readers new to the field.
AI Overview
The "Encyclopedia of the Atlantic World, 1400–1900" edited by David Head is a two-volume reference work that provides a comprehensive historical overview of the interactions among four Atlantic-facing continents: Europe, Africa, and the Americas (including the Caribbean) during the period from 1400 to 1900. Here is a detailed overview of the book:
Key Themes
- Exploration and Colonization: The encyclopedia covers the major explorers, colonization efforts, and the impact of these activities on the indigenous populations and the environment.
- Trade and Commerce: It examines the significant trade routes, commodities, and economic systems that developed across the Atlantic world, including the transatlantic slave trade.
- Empires and Politics: The work delves into the rise and fall of various empires, such as the Portuguese, Spanish, British, French, and Dutch, and their political and military strategies.
- Cultural Exchange: It highlights the cultural exchanges and influences that occurred between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, including the spread of Christianity, Islam, and other religions.
- Social and Economic Transformations: The encyclopedia looks at the social and economic changes that took place during this period, including the development of new technologies, urbanization, and the emergence of new social classes.
Plot Summary
The encyclopedia is structured into two volumes, each covering a range of topics from A to K in Volume 1 and L to Z in Volume 2. The entries are written by various historians and experts in the field, providing in-depth information on key figures, events, and concepts. Some of the specific topics covered include:
- European Exploration: Entries on explorers like Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan.
- African Kingdoms: Information on African kingdoms and their interactions with European powers.
- American Colonies: Detailed accounts of the colonization of the Americas by European powers.
- Slavery and the Slave Trade: Comprehensive coverage of the transatlantic slave trade and its impact on societies.
- Economic Systems: Discussions on mercantilism, capitalism, and other economic systems that shaped the Atlantic world.
Critical Reception
While specific reviews are not provided in the search results, the book's reputation can be inferred from its publication by ABC-CLIO, a reputable academic publisher known for producing high-quality reference works. The inclusion of bibliographical references and an index suggests that the encyclopedia is a serious academic resource intended for scholars and students of history.
In summary, "Encyclopedia of the Atlantic World, 1400–1900" by David Head is a seminal work that offers a rich and detailed exploration of the complex interactions and transformations that occurred across the Atlantic world from 1400 to 1900. Its comprehensive coverage and scholarly approach make it an invaluable resource for historians and researchers in the field.