Description
Book SynopsisWhat was the effect of the British Empire on the cultures and civilisations of the peoples over whom it ruled? This book takes a novel approach to this important and controversial subject by considering the impact of empire on the idea of ''heritage''. It reveals a dazzling variety of attitudes on the part of the imperialists - from frank ''plunder'' of American, Asian, African and Pacific peoples'' cultural artefacts and monuments to a growing appreciation of the need for ''preservation'' of the world''s heritage in the places it originated. But it goes beyond the empire-centred view to consider how far colonised peoples themselves were able to embed indigenous understandings of their heritage in the empire, and how indeed the empire was very often dependent on indigenous knowledge for its own functioning. This book will therefore appeal to those interested in the history of the British Empire in all parts of the world, and also to the burgeoning audience for writing on ''world herita
Trade Review... lively, handsomely produced and beautifully illustrated collections of essays ... * Times Literary Supplement *
Table of ContentsPART I: INTRODUCTION; PART II: THE CLASSICAL WORLD; PART III: THE BIBLICAL WORLD; PART IV: EMPIRES AND CIVILISATIONS; PART V: THE NEW WORLD
