A Cultural History of the Atlantic World, 1250–1820

by John K. Thornton

A Cultural History of the Atlantic World, 1250–1820 explores the idea that strong linkages exist in the histories of Africa, Europe, and North and South America. John K. Thornton provides a comprehensive overview of the history of the Atlantic Basin before 1830 by describing political, social, and cultural interactions between the continents' inhabitants. He traces the backgrounds of the populations on these three continental landmasses brought into contact by European navigation. Thornton then examines the political and social implications of the encounters, tracing the origins of a variety of Atlantic societies and showing how new ways of eating, drinking, speaking, and worshipping developed in the newly created Atlantic World. This book uses close readings of original sources to produce new interpretations of its subject.

Genres: History, Africa, School, Nonfiction, World History

562 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 2012

About the author

A specialist in the history of Africa, the African Diaspora and the Atlantic world, John K. Thornton is professor of African American Studies and History at Boston University.

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't quite finish this, but it isn't necessarily a finishin' book per se. More of a keepin' on the shelf book. Thornton covers so much ground here, and he is constantly leaping back and forth between the different areas of the Atlantic World. I like his idea of organizing the people of that world into categories based on general social structure (i.e. small states, empires, loose democracies) and then comparing and contrasting what happens when people of these various sorts of societies interact with each other. It makes for some fascinating comparisons that might never come up otherwise - between parts of North America, South America, and Africa. Another great thing about this book is it doesn't just basically ignore Africa. So many Atlantic histories just glance at Africa but spend no time there. But Thornton is an Africanist so obviously he does not do that.
A grad student friend of mine said this was Braudelian, and that seems about right. Reminiscent of Braudel. I got this book at the library, but I need to find a used copy and keep it on the shelf next to Braudel's "Mediterranean." These are both the sort of books that one takes down and peruses from time to time.

[Jindřich Zapletal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a pretty incredible book, taking a broad sweep along the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean during early modern times. It gives the reader an opportunity to appreciate the extent to which this was a unified space despite the cultural chasms that separated its three continents.

You can read the book without any prerequisites beyond high school understanding of history, but in such a case, it will be overwhelming in its goals and detail. And no matter what, you will probably not finish the book in one go. I loved mostly every word of it, I had a number of more localized studies under my belt before I opened it, but I will have to come back to it, and probably not just once.

[James Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is as thorough a history of the Western Hemisphere as I have seen in one book. Not only does it touch on Native American history and the coming of the Europeans, but it weaves in South America and the Caribbean such that any other historical narrative should seem incomplete by comparison. I would recommend this work for a graduate historiography class.

[Mills College Library]

909.09821 T513 2012

[Jose De sa · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Thornton is the last great historian about Africa who is alive.
This book is a must for whoever is interested in the African role in the american culture, particularly Angola.