A cultural history of the Atlantic world, 1250-1820

Abstract

"A Cultural History of the Atlantic World, 1250-1820 explores the idea that strong links 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"--

Contents

Part I. The Atlantic Background: 1. The foundation of the Atlantic world, 1250-1600 -- Part II. Three Atlantic Worlds: 2. The European background; 3. The African background; 4. The American world, 1450-1700 -- Part III. The Nature of Encounter and its Aftermath: 5. Conquest; 6. Colonization; 7. Contact -- Part IV. Culture Transition and Change: 8. Transfer and retention in language; 9. Aesthetic change; 10. Religious stability and change; 11. The revolutionary moment in the Atlantic.