Power over Peoples: Technology, Environments, and Western Imperialism, 1400 to the Present

The Princeton Economic History of the Western World #31

by Daniel R. Headrick

A major history of technology and Western conquest

For six hundred years, the nations of Europe and North America have periodically attempted to coerce, invade, or conquer other societies. They have relied on their superior technology to do so, yet these technologies have not always guaranteed success. Power over Peoples examines Western imperialism's complex relationship with technology, from the first Portuguese ships that ventured down the coast of Africa in the 1430s to America's conflicts in the Middle East today.

Why did the sailing vessels that gave the Portuguese a century-long advantage in the Indian Ocean fail to overcome Muslim galleys in the Red Sea? Why were the same weapons and methods that the Spanish used to conquer Mexico and Peru ineffective in Chile and Africa? Why didn't America's overwhelming air power assure success in Iraq and Afghanistan? In Power over Peoples , Daniel Headrick traces the evolution of Western technologies―from muskets and galleons to jet planes and smart bombs―and sheds light on the environmental and social factors that have brought victory in some cases and unforeseen defeat in others. He shows how superior technology translates into greater power over nature and sometimes even other peoples, yet how technological superiority is no guarantee of success in imperialist ventures―because the technology only delivers results in a specific environment, or because the society being attacked responds in unexpected ways.

Breathtaking in scope, Power over Peoples is a revealing history of technological innovation, its promise and limitations, and its central role in the rise and fall of empire.

Genres: History, Economics, Nonfiction, World History, Politics, Military History, Technology

416 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2009

About the author

A specialist in the history of international relations, technology, and the environment, Daniel R. Headrick is professor emeritus of social science and history at Roosevelt University.

Reviews

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Unas pocas pinceladas en un cuadro amplísimo.-

Género. Ensayo.

Lo que nos cuenta. Retrato de imperialismos occidentales desde el siglo XV al XX construido sobre bases tecnológicas diferenciadoras y sobre algunas paradojas.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[urbanoo]

if i didn’t have to write a 15 page fucking essay on this maybe I would’ve enjoyed it more

[Diego · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poder e Imperio ( su titulo en español) es un fantástico libro que narra la historia de la tecnología militar en los últimos 600 años y el rol que esta ha tenido en facilitar la obtención de riqueza de sus poseedores. El libro ilustra como la ventaja tecnológica combinada con factores medio ambientales es la gran hacedora de conquistas territoriales o fracasos al intentarlos.

Daniel Headrick hace un recuento emocionante y lleno de información útil que permite poner en contexto los hechos históricos y la tendencia del imperialismo y colonialismo de los tiempos de la conquista de América hasta las guerras modernas en Iraq y Afganistan.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth Headrick book I've read, so I feel like I've already written a fair bit on Goodreads about him. It's something of an update to *The Tools of Empire*, which is one of those books that everyone cites when writing about imperialism.

I would strongly recommend this one ahead of Tools, because it really has engaged a bit more with the surrounding literature, particularly Philip Curtin's stuff. It also extends out the timeline and tries to come up with cross-cutting themes.

Headrick dedicates the book to his mentor, William McNeill, and that's appropriate. This is very much in McNeill's style.

[Cara Lynn]

Read for school

[Eddie Choo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Technology not the only thing

This is an excellent primer into the ways technologies are jot universal in subjugating peoples. Ultimately, people are often defeated by other reasons and technology is just one of them.

[Mike Briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A study of the rise of imperialism from around 1400.

[Wim Kamerbeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very interesting to read - basically - about the history of weapons.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes more sense than "Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Diamond.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Headrick's is a paradigm altering book.