History 739Topics in Near Eastern and

World HistoryDr. John Curry

john.curry@unlv.eduhttp://faculty.unlv.edu/curryj5

Room B-326 (History Conference Room)

Class meets: 4:30-7:30pmOffice Hours: Tuesday 2:30-4:00pm

Background for John Darwin’s After Tamerlane

Teaches at Oxford since the late 1980s; acting fellow at the Nuffield College for writing of book

Focuses on the formation, governance and end of British colonial rule

After Tamerlane wins Wolfson History Prize for best book (2007)

Sixteenth century world map of Gerhard Mercator

Routes and sinews of increasing global interconnection

Advances in map-making, based on Mercator Atlas, ca. 1820

The era of colonial empires as reflected in map of 1910

Decolonization since WWII

Afro-Eurasian states emerging since the 1940s

Discussion of Darwin (not to be limited to points below)

What are the key arguments that Darwin’s work advances, and what views of history does he seek to challenge?

What types of original contributions or thinking does the work provide?

Why do you think this won a prize for excellence in writing history for a public audience?

Are there any weaknesses to Darwin’s approach, and if so, what are they, and why might they become evident?

Innovative elements in Darwin’s After Tamerlane

Starting a history of the modern period with the figure of Tamerlane—an odd choice, or shrewd?

Focus is on the process of building empires as patterns of conjunctures rather than linear

Challenges traditional teleology of history that charts ascent of the West from 1400s

Defining terminology: what constitutes “the West,” empire, or modernity?

How did societies meet the challenges of eras?

Chronologies for comparison: Darwin’s vs. traditional

To 1405 1405-1620 1620-1750 1750-1830 1830-1880 1880-1914 1914-1942 1942-present

To 1450 (or 1500)

1450-1750 1750-1815 1815-1914 1914-1929 1929-1949 1949-1991 1991-present

Issues of chronology: from the Age of Discovery to Equilibrium Western Europe begins period as weakest

and most insecure in the earliest stages Conquest of Americas does not necessarily

propel Western Eurasia to predominance Instead sees formation of equilibrium

between European, Islamic and East Asian powers

Islamic and East Asian powers develop sophisticated governing structures in own right

Dynamism lies in naval routes and curiosity

The “Eurasian Revolution” as the key moment in history

Shift of global power between 1750 and 1830 Expansion into key regions: N. America after

1780s, Black Sea after 1774, S.E. Asia after 1790

Key moment is takeover in Bengal province of India for Britain—allows for entry into China

Industrialization by end of period opens up a “great divergence” in productive capacity

Europe also embarks on a revolutionary break with its traditions that isn’t matched elsewhere

The “race against time”: why were Western empires sustained? Alternative possibilities: intra-European conflict

could have reversed gains, but didn’t Evolution of “generic liberalism” from U.S. to

Russia allows for comparison to “Outer World” Over 75% of world trade in West by 1880 Transport, migration can overwhelm non-West Yet symbolic victories vs. permanent presence Exception: “self-propelling” colony of India Race of “self-strengthening” and “reform”

Reaching the limits of empire, 1880-1914

Marked by rapidly-erected territorial empires and ideologies of progress, race supremacy

But with “genetic flaw,” as colonial powers grow nervous about “sharing out” unconquered areas

Scramble for Africa as a key intersection of technology advances and Great Power dealing

Russia consolidates power (a pattern for J.D.?) Response of non-West: borrowing and revival Eurasian polities: too distant, too dense?

An era of global crisis and “empire denied,” 1914-present? End of co-operative imperialism after 1914

(though re-asserted in Cold War?) Collapse of agreement leads to loss of

legitimacy after savage WWI context Cultural authenticity and solidarity against

outside powers and control (Gandhi in India) The dangers of interwar autarky by the 1930s Eurasian partition and decolonization delayed Unlimited empire emerging? Too early to say…

Issues of immediate concern for the future

Giancarlo Casale book will be on the docket for September 23 class (next Thursday)

Richard Bulliet book will be on the docket for September 30 class (following Thursday)

October classes will focus on the writing process; more details forthcoming

November classes on the 11th, 18th, and 25th will be cancelled for holidays

Presentations on Dec. 2, final paper on Dec. 9