This brilliantly concise history of the Pacific Ocean nevertheless
succeeds in examining both the indigenous presence on ocean's
islands and Western control or influence over the its islands and
shores. There is a particular focus on the period from the 1530s to
1890 with its greater Western coastal and oceanic presence in the
Pacific, beginning with the Spanish takeover of the coasts of
modern Central America, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, and continuing
with the Spaniards in the Philippines. There is also an emphasis on
the very different physical and human environments of the four
quadrants of the Pacific - the north-east, the north-west, the
south-east and the south-west - and of the 'coastal' islands, that
is the Aleutians, Japan and New Zealand, and continental
coastlines. The focus is always on the interactions of Japan,
California, Peru, Australia and other territories with the ocean,
notably in terms of trade, migration and fishing. Black looks first
at the geology, currents, winds and physical make-up of the
Pacific, then the region's indigenous inhabitants to 1520. He
describes the Pacific before the arrival of Europeans, its history
of settlement, navigation methods and religious practices. From
Easter Island, the focus shifts to European voyages, from Magellan
to Cook and Tasman, the problems they faced, not least the sheer
scale of the ocean. Black looks at the impact of these voyages on
local people, including the Russians in the Aleutian Islands.
Outside control of the region grew from 1788 to 1898. The British
laid claim to Australia and America to the Phillipines. Western
economic and political impact manifested in sandalwood and gold
rushes, and the coming of steamships accelerated this impact.
Territorial claims spread through Willis, Perry and the Americans,
including to Hawaii. Black looks at the Maori wars in New Zealand
and the War of the Pacific on the South American coast. Christian
missionary activity increased, and Gaugin offered a different
vision of the Pacific. 1899 to 1945 marked the struggle of empires:
the rise of Japan as an oceanic power, and the Second World War in
the Pacific as a critical moment in world history. Oil-powered
ships ushered in the American Age, from 1945 to 2015, bringing the
end of the British Pacific. France had a continued role, in Tahiti
and New Caledonia, but America had become the dominant presence.
Black explores the political, economic and cultural impacts of, for
example, Polynesians attending universities in America and
Australasia; the spread of rugby; and relatively little
international tension, although some domestic pressures remained,
including instability in Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The book ends
with a look at the Pacific's future: pressures from industrial
fishing, pollution and climate change; the rise of drug smuggling;
greater Chinese influence leading to conflict with America and
Australasia - the Pacific is once again on the frontline of
military planning. But the Pacific's future also includes tourism,
from Acapulco to Hawaii, and from Tahiti to Cairns.
General
Imprint: |
Robinson
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Series: |
Brief Histories |
Release date: |
October 2023 |
Authors: |
Jeremy Black
|
Dimensions: |
198 x 126 x 22mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
272 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-4721-4673-1 |
Categories: |
Books >
Humanities >
History >
General
Books >
History >
General
|
LSN: |
1-4721-4673-5 |
Barcode: |
9781472146731 |
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!