Expanding Frontiers in South Asian and World History: Essays in Honour of John F. Richards – Summary, Themes & Analysis | PDF Book Free Download

“Explore Expanding Frontiers in South Asian and World History, a tribute to John F. Richards. Essays on empire, ecology, and global connections.”

Title: Expanding Frontiers in South Asian and World History: Essays in Honour of John F. Richards
Editors: Douglas E. Haynes, Gyan Prakash, and Tapan Raychaudhuri
Published by: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2004
Pages: 368
Genre: Academic History, South Asian Studies, World History
ISBN: 9780521811271

Overview

Expanding Frontiers in South Asian and World History is a festschrift dedicated to the distinguished historian John F. Richards, acclaimed for his groundbreaking contributions to Mughal, environmental, and global history. This compilation presents essays authored by some of the most esteemed scholars within the fields of South Asian and world historical studies.
The essays investigate a diverse range of topics within pre-modern, early modern, and modern history, covering aspects such as state formation, economic developments, ecological interactions, and societal transformations in South Asia and further afield. The volume serves to underscore Richards’s intellectual impact and the influence his scholarship has had on modern historiography.

Content Overview

The book is organized into thematic segments that correspond to Richards’s primary areas of focus:

1. South Asia in Global Context

The essays in this area examine the incorporation of South Asia into worldwide phenomena, including trade, migration, and the expansion of empires. Scholars scrutinize the economy of the Indian Ocean, mercantile societies, and the region's engagements with European powers.

2. State, Empire, and Power

These contributions analyze governance, statecraft, and imperial tactics, especially during the Mughal and early colonial epochs. Relevant discussions encompass taxation, administrative structures, and the roles of violence and diplomacy in maintaining imperial authority.

3. Environment and Ecology

Continuing from Richards’s pivotal studies in environmental history, contributors assess the interplay between ecology, agriculture, and the growth of empires, considering factors such as forest utilization, irrigation, and ecological shifts across various territories.

4. Culture, Identity, and Society

This segment investigates the development of identities, encompassing religious, linguistic, and gender identities, and their formation through political and economic influences. It also addresses urban growth, social mobility, and caste dynamics.

Key Contributions

• David Ludden examines spatial changes within South India.
• Gail Omvedt and colleagues discuss agrarian transformations and peasant political movements.
• Barbara Metcalf addresses Muslim identities during the colonial era.
• Sanjay Subrahmanyam offers a broader perspective on early modern global history, elucidating connections among Asia, Europe, and Africa.

The volume expertly blends regional insight with a global perspective, reflecting John F. Richards’s historical methodology of linking localized events to worldwide changes.

About John F. Richards

John F. Richards (1938–2007) was a prominent historian who specialized in South Asian history and the early modern world. His significant contributions include:

• Environmental history (e.g., The Unending Frontier)
• Mughal history (e.g., The Mughal Empire)
• Methodologies in world history

Richards’s scholarship highlighted the interconnectedness of various regions, encouraging historians to transcend nation-centric viewpoints.

Why This Book Is Important

• Interdisciplinary approach: Merges history, economics, anthropology, and environmental studies.
• Global relevance: Places South Asian advances within larger world-historical frameworks.
• Tribute to an academic legacy: Provides perspectives on the progression of historiographical movements throughout the late 20th century.
• Research value: An essential resource for scholars, students, and academics keen on exploring early modern history, imperial studies, and global historical contexts.

Notable Quotes and Ideas

“The frontier was not a limit to power, but a zone of negotiation and transformation. ”

— A central concept discussed in the book, inspired by Richards’s examinations of frontiers.
“South Asian history must be studied not only in its regional contexts but as part of world-historical processes. ”

Target Audience

• Students and academics interested in the history of South Asia
• Scholars specializing in global history, imperial studies, and environmental history
• Enthusiastic readers curious about India's historical global relationships
• University libraries and research organizations