The Dynamics of Global Dominance: European Overseas Empires, 1415-1980

by David B. Abernethy

This magisterial survey of the rise and decline of European overseas empires asks how and why these empires took shape, persisted, and finally fell. In a discussion that encompasses European and non-European actors as well as the economic, social, cultural, and political dimensions of empire, David B. Abernethy explains Europe's long occupation of global center stage and throws new light on today's postcolonial world and the legacies of empire.

Genres: History, Politics, Grad School, Nonfiction

544 pages, Hardcover

First published December 11, 2000

Reviews

[Zack Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very ambitious in scope and definitely pulls it off. Seeks to answer the question of how and why Europe was able to conquer practically the entire world. The last chapter is the best I've read that explains the way the world is today.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extraordinarily detailed account of European hegemony looking at the consequences of sectoral influences as opposed to the more Eurocentric explanations that are often discussed.

[Abigail Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for global history class. Too dense for casual reading but overall highly informative. I appreciated the clarity of argument. Fairness of argument good go either way- I appreciated the attempt at balance but the amount of defense pro-colonial voices were given made me uncomfortable.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers 565 years of history (1415-1980). Very well organized and written. Somewhat academic but reads like a novel. As soon as I started reading, I was hooked.

[norah]

Read for seminar