Routledge Library Editions: The British Empire – serie

The volumes in this set, originally published between 1968 and 1989, draw together research by leading academics in the area of the British Empire and provides an examination of related key issues. The volumes examine slavery in the British Empire, problems encountered in India in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, as well as the Empire at its most powerful. This set will be of particular interest to students of British, colonial, and world history.

This book, first published in 1968, is a study of the impact made on Britain by the conquest of large parts of India in the second half of the eighteenth century. The sudden success of the East India Company in subjugating a vast population with a sophisticated civilization created problems of an unprecedented kind for Britain. It raised in an acute form questions about the scope and limits of state action, the rights of chartered bodies, the duties of conquerors to subject peoples, the appropriateness of exporting western ideals and concepts of law and government to Asia, and the manner in which the resources of the East could best contribute to Britain's power and wealth.These and similar topics were discussed at length in Parliament, the press, books and pamphlets, and in the correspondence of private individuals. A selection of this material, drawing on a wide and varied range of printed and manuscript sources, has been made to illustrate the arguments used in this debate and the manner in which solutions to some of the problems were gradually worked out over a period of more than fifty years. By 1813, after much trial and error, the outline of the political, administrative and economic links which were to bind India to Britain for much of the nineteenth century are already visible.

This book, first published in 1968, is a study of the impact made on Britain by the conquest of large parts of India in the second half of the eighteenth century. The sudden success of the East India Company in subjugating a vast population with a sophisticated civilization created problems of an unprecedented kind for Britain. It raised in an acute form questions about the scope and limits of state action, the rights of chartered bodies, the duties of conquerors to subject peoples, the appropriateness of exporting western ideals and concepts of law and government to Asia, and the manner in which the resources of the East could best contribute to Britain's power and wealth.These and similar topics were discussed at length in Parliament, the press, books and pamphlets, and in the correspondence of private individuals. A selection of this material, drawing on a wide and varied range of printed and manuscript sources, has been made to illustrate the arguments used in this debate and the manner in which solutions to some of the problems were gradually worked out over a period of more than fifty years. By 1813, after much trial and error, the outline of the political, administrative and economic links which were to bind India to Britain for much of the nineteenth century are already visible.

Originally published in 1987. In this volume, the author unearths the rich sources for the study of colonial history provided by the myriad periodical publications which flourished in the early and mid-Victorian period. This was an age in which the printed word reigned supreme as a form of communication. Through the extensive listing of this bibliography – close to 3000 entries drawn from some fifty London-based magazines – we see the rich and diverse threads which interwove to form the colourful fabric which was the British Empire at the height of its grandeur.

Originally published in 1987. In this volume, the author unearths the rich sources for the study of colonial history provided by the myriad periodical publications which flourished in the early and mid-Victorian period. This was an age in which the printed word reigned supreme as a form of communication. Through the extensive listing of this bibliography – close to 3000 entries drawn from some fifty London-based magazines – we see the rich and diverse threads which interwove to form the colourful fabric which was the British Empire at the height of its grandeur.

First published in 1984. Indentured labour migration in the nineteenth century intersects many of the most serious issues of our own time - racism, Third World poverty, and the arrogance of a great world powers. Indenture suggests lack of freedom and the exploitation of people formed into exile or misadventure. Coming as it did after the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834, in many respects it can be regarded as a replacement of the slave labour system. Indeed, both concerned humanitarians and officials in the nineteenth century, and many historians subsequently have regarded indentured labour merely as 'a new system of slavery'.Many of the articles in this book address themselves to this assertion, whilst investigating the particular variations inherent in their geographic area. The differing patterns of Indian indenture in the West Indies and British Guiana, coming almost immediately after slavery, forms the first section of this book. Attention is given to the Indians engaged in the sugar industries in Mauritius and Fiji, and the rubber industry in Malaya. The use of Pacific Islanders in the Queensland industry is also examined, particularly in the sugar industry which, by the early twentieth century, contained the unique pattern of white, expensive, unionized labour. Other groups dealt with include the aboriginal workers in Australia and the Chinese workers in the Transvaal.Overall, this book is comprehensive and far-reaching in its scope and the complex issues which it raises.

First published in 1984. Indentured labour migration in the nineteenth century intersects many of the most serious issues of our own time - racism, Third World poverty, and the arrogance of a great world powers. Indenture suggests lack of freedom and the exploitation of people formed into exile or misadventure. Coming as it did after the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834, in many respects it can be regarded as a replacement of the slave labour system. Indeed, both concerned humanitarians and officials in the nineteenth century, and many historians subsequently have regarded indentured labour merely as 'a new system of slavery'.Many of the articles in this book address themselves to this assertion, whilst investigating the particular variations inherent in their geographic area. The differing patterns of Indian indenture in the West Indies and British Guiana, coming almost immediately after slavery, forms the first section of this book. Attention is given to the Indians engaged in the sugar industries in Mauritius and Fiji, and the rubber industry in Malaya. The use of Pacific Islanders in the Queensland industry is also examined, particularly in the sugar industry which, by the early twentieth century, contained the unique pattern of white, expensive, unionized labour. Other groups dealt with include the aboriginal workers in Australia and the Chinese workers in the Transvaal.Overall, this book is comprehensive and far-reaching in its scope and the complex issues which it raises.

First published in 1987. Great Britain secured and expanded its informal empire in China during the five years following the Sino-Japanese War. From 1895 through 1900 Lord Salisbury accepted England’s traditional, commercially oriented China policy and adapted it to dramatically altered political conditions in East Asia. Through the efforts of Sir Claude MacDonald, Britain met the commercial and political challenges of its European competitors and implemented the "open door," a strong but maligned policy. With the assistance of Britain’s indigenous collaborators, England managed to maintain a greatly weakened Manchu dynasty and to increase its financial, commercial, and informal political power in China without the use of military force or formal alliance. In order to help the reader understand Britain’s informal empire in China, the author reviews the historical background which brought China into Britain’s expanding economy.

First published in 1987. Great Britain secured and expanded its informal empire in China during the five years following the Sino-Japanese War. From 1895 through 1900 Lord Salisbury accepted England’s traditional, commercially oriented China policy and adapted it to dramatically altered political conditions in East Asia. Through the efforts of Sir Claude MacDonald, Britain met the commercial and political challenges of its European competitors and implemented the "open door," a strong but maligned policy. With the assistance of Britain’s indigenous collaborators, England managed to maintain a greatly weakened Manchu dynasty and to increase its financial, commercial, and informal political power in China without the use of military force or formal alliance. In order to help the reader understand Britain’s informal empire in China, the author reviews the historical background which brought China into Britain’s expanding economy.

Originally published in 1989. The extraordinary story of Britain’s child migrants is one of 350 years of shaming exploitation. Around 130,000 children, some just 3 or 4 years old, were shipped off to distant parts of the Empire, the last as recently as 1967.For Britain it was a cheap way of emptying children’s homes and populating the colonies with ‘good British stock’; for the colonies it was a source of cheap labour. Even after the Second World War around 10,000 children were transported to Australia – where many were subjected to at best uncaring abandonment, and at worst a regime of appalling cruelty. Lost Children of the Empire tells the remarkable story of the Child Migrants Trust, set up in 1987, to trace families and to help those involved to come to terms with what has happened. But nothing can explain away the connivance and irresponsibility of the governments and organisations involved in this inhuman chapter of British history.

Originally published in 1989. The extraordinary story of Britain’s child migrants is one of 350 years of shaming exploitation. Around 130,000 children, some just 3 or 4 years old, were shipped off to distant parts of the Empire, the last as recently as 1967.For Britain it was a cheap way of emptying children’s homes and populating the colonies with ‘good British stock’; for the colonies it was a source of cheap labour. Even after the Second World War around 10,000 children were transported to Australia – where many were subjected to at best uncaring abandonment, and at worst a regime of appalling cruelty. Lost Children of the Empire tells the remarkable story of the Child Migrants Trust, set up in 1987, to trace families and to help those involved to come to terms with what has happened. But nothing can explain away the connivance and irresponsibility of the governments and organisations involved in this inhuman chapter of British history.

This title, originally published in 1988, examines the network of states and the political and economic systems which bound the British Empire together. This book examines each country and how the empire made its mark in the shape of urban form, public buildings and rural land patterns. An overall assessment of the Imperial heritage is attempted as a pointer to the unity which existed between the many diverse lands for a brief period in their history.

This title, originally published in 1988, examines the network of states and the political and economic systems which bound the British Empire together. This book examines each country and how the empire made its mark in the shape of urban form, public buildings and rural land patterns. An overall assessment of the Imperial heritage is attempted as a pointer to the unity which existed between the many diverse lands for a brief period in their history.

Originally published in 1985. After the epoch-making voyages of exploration of Captain Cook, a series of further exploratory missions was financed by the British government to add to the knowledge of the lands of the southern hemisphere: 'a more minute examination of the coast' was, for example, the brief of the voyage of the Investigator. Specimens of plants and fauna were to be collected, and useful products noted. The combination of the commercial streak with a commitment to empirical science was typical of the interests of the eighteenth century.This book traces the explorations and achievements of those who undertook missions of this kind, as extensions of their patrons' eyes, as it were. The commercial possibilities - of cotton, furs, foodstuffs, and other products - were exploited to the full, and the achievements of science thus helped to strengthen the imperial effort. Notable figures include the distinguished naturalist Sir Joseph Banks and the notorious Captain Bligh of the Bounty. The fascination and wide-ranging story is told with full scholarly documentation and many new insights and discoveries.