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Europe and the People Without History

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( 1,284 ratings, 54 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Europe and the People Without History by Eric R. Wolf is a historical analysis exploring the global interplay of societies, particularly focusing on those traditionally overlooked by European-centric narratives. Wolf examines how these societies have shaped and been shaped by global capitalism, empire, and colonialism, highlighting the interconnectedness of human history. This comprehensive work challenges Eurocentric views by spotlighting the dynamic contributions of non-European cultures in the creation of the modern world.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you have an interest in understanding how interconnected histories shaped the modern world, especially from the perspective of indigenous and colonised peoples often left out of traditional narratives. It offers a compelling examination of European expansion and its impact on different societies, providing a broader and more inclusive view of global history.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Explores the historical trajectory of so-called modern globalization. This title challenges the long-held anthropological notion that non-European cultures and people were isolated and static entities before the advent of European colonialism and imperialism.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Offering insight and equal consideration into the societies of the "civilised" and "uncivilised" world, Europe and the People Without History deftly explores the historical trajectory of so-called modern globalisation. In this foundational text about the development of the global political economy, Eric R. Wolf challenges the long-held anthropological notion that non-European cultures and peoples were isolated and static entities before the advent of European colonialism and imperialism.

Ironically referred to as "the People Without History" by Wolf, these societies before active colonisation possessed perpetually changing, reactionary cultures and were indeed just as intertwined into the processes of the pre-Columbian global economic system as their European counterparts.

Utilising Marxian concepts and a vivid consideration for the importance of history, Wolf judiciously traces the effects and conditions in Europe and the rest of the "known" world, beginning in 1400 AD, that allowed capitalism to emerge as the dominant ideology of the modern era.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Eric R. Wolf's Europe and the People Without History is praised for its powerful theoretical insights and its lived understanding of social realities. Reviewers commend the book's ability to highlight how European expansion transformed non-European societies and redefined historical narratives. Praise is given for Wolf's extensive empirical knowledge and his adept selection of representative phenomena across various times and spaces. The book is lauded for creating a narrative of interconnectedness, moving away from traditional dichotomies and providing a complex view of Europe's relationship with the world. It is noted as a significant work urging anthropology to give more attention to historical contexts.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780520268180

Publisher: University of California Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 21 September 2010

Country: United States

Imprint: University of California Press

Edition: 2nd edition

Illustration: 22 b-w photographs, 3 line illustrations, 35 maps

Contributors:

  • Foreword by Thomas Hylland Eriksen

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 726g

Pages: 536

About the Author

Eric R. Wolf(1923--1999) had an illustrious and influential career as Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at H. Lehman College and the Graduate School of the City University of New York.

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