Much has been written about the origins of the great push which led Europe to colonise sub-Saharan Africa at the end of the nineteenth century. This book provides a new perspective on this controversial subject by focussing on Europe and a range of empire-building states: Germany, France, Italy and Portugal. The essays in this volume consider economic themes in addition to the political and cultural aspects of the transition from commerce to colonies.

Much has been written about the origins of the great push which led Europe to colonise sub-Saharan Africa at the end of the nineteenth century. This book provides a new perspective on this controversial subject by focussing on Europe and a range of empire-building states, Germany, France, Italy and Portugal. The essays in this volume consider economic themes in addition to the political and cultural aspects of the transition from commerce to colonies.
Unlike other texts on the subject, this refreshing new volume redresses many imbalances, by:
*considering of a number of empire building states, instead of just one of them
*Giving prominence to powers other than Britain
*Giving weight to economic themes without losing sight of the equally important political and cultural aspects of the transition from commerce to colonies
*Taking the analysis beyond the 1880s, and revealing the broader picture - covering the time of the first attacks against the slave trade (during the 1780s) to the premise of the 'scramble' (1880s)
*Reviewing the colonial process (excepting that of Great Britain) as the reaffirmation and exacerbation of the Ancien Regime, and as a reflection of the highest form of mercantilism rather than the highest form of capitalism
*Illuminating the importance of circumstantial phenomena, at the scale of Europe and of its different countries.
By emphasizing the variety of those involved, and the diversity of regional and local situations, this book shows how necessary it is to link the general history of ideas, national- and micro-history. The contributors suggest a true cosmopolitan history of imperialism, one which is of great relevance in our times ofglobalization and reconstruction since September 11th, 2001.