Imperial Meridian: The British Empire and the World 1780-1830

Studies in Modern History

by C.A. Bayly

In this impressive and ambitious survey Dr Bayly studies the rise, apogee and decline of what has come to be called `the Second British Empire' -- the great expansion of British dominion overseas (particularly in Asia and the Middle East) during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic era that, coming between the loss of America and the subsequent partition of Africa, constitutes the central phase of British imperial history.

Genres: History, Academic, British Literature, Nonfiction

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Christopher Alan Bayly was a British historian specializing in British Imperial, Indian, and global history. A graduate of the University of Oxford, he was the Vere Harmsworth Professor of Imperial and Naval History at the University of Cambridge. He was knighted in 2007 for achievements as a historian.

Reviews

[Boone Ayala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why and how was there a massive expansion of British Imperial power in the Eastern hemisphere following the end of the American War? Two primary reasons: the commercialisation and capitalist growth of the old Muslim empires (Mughal, Safavid, Ottoman, and others) put pressure on those imperial states at precisely the time that Europeans were beginning to trade there. Instability encouraged the European trading nations to take greater control to maintain revenues, and to ally with the rising capitalist classes in these states against traditional political leaders.

The other reason was internal to Britain: the emergence of agrarian patriotism, which saw in agriculture a way of Britain improving the world. This doctrine was wrapped up in notions of British supremacy, and was crucial to giving the second empire its paternalistic, oppressive, autocratic character.

Short but incredibly dense. Lots and lots of information, so slightly difficult to follow everything Bayly discusses.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far it is really boring and frustrating because I can't follow the thesis.

[Benemint]

Check 133-63 for "evangelist and agrarianist" argument.

[Julaine]

Source: University Bookstore. Used for H429 Hanoverian Englnad.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent history, but i'd suggest knowing what happened before reading there is just so much in here.