Synopses & Reviews
The early modern period (c. 1500-1800) of world history is characterized by the establishment and aggressive expansion of European empires, and warfare between imperial powers and indigenous peoples was a central component of the quest for global dominance. From the Portuguese in Africa to the Russians and Ottomans in Central Asia, empire builders could not avoid military interactions with native populations, and many discovered that imperial expansion was impossible without the cooperation, and, in some cases, alliances with the natives they encountered in the new worlds they sought to rule.
Empires and Indigenes is a sweeping examination of how intercultural interactions between Europeans and indigenous people influenced military choices and strategic action. Ranging from the Muscovites on the western steppe to the French and English in North America, it analyzes how diplomatic and military systems were designed to accommodate the demands and expectations of local peoples, who aided the imperial powers even as they often became subordinated to them. Contributors take on the analytical problem from a variety of levels, from the detailed case studies of the different ways indigenous peoples could be employed, to more comprehensive syntheses and theoretical examinations of diplomatic processes, ethnic soldier mobilization, and the interaction of culture and military technology.
Warfare and Culture series
Contributors: Virginia Aksan, David R. Jones, Marjoleine Kars, Wayne E. Lee, Mark Meuwese, Douglas M. Peers, Geoffrey Plank, Jenny Hale Pulsipher, and John K. Thornton
Review
“A wide reading of manuscript sources, court cases, and secondary works. . . . A very good book that is well worth the reading.”
-American Historical Review,
Review
“Jackson's excellent study. . . . places the fight against segregation within a much broader historical context. . . . It greatly illuminates the development of social science knowledge about the crucial topic of race in modern America.”
-History of Education Quarterly,
Review
“A provocative analysis of social scientists' role in the landmark desegregation case Brown v. Board of Education.“
-Law and History Review,
Review
"Relying substantially on archival sources, Jackson helps us to understand how science was involved in the landmark Brown vs. the Board of Education case, and how the scientists themselves conceived of their role in the legal process. In addition, he provides a fascinating account of the relationship between Jewish organizations and the NAACP in their joint effort to oppose discriminatory policies." - William Tucker, Rutgers University
Review
“A deeply researched, clearly written account of an important subject. Thorough and well organized. Gives the reader a clear understanding of what liberal social scientists were thinking in 1954. This contribution will be of interest to both historians and social scientists.”
“Relying substantially on archival sources, Jackson helps us to understand how science was involved in the landmark Brown vs. the Board of Education case, and how the scientists themselves conceived of their role in the legal process. In addition, he provides a fascinating account of the relationship between Jewish organizations and the NAACP in their joint effort to oppose discriminatory policies.”
“A provocative analysis of social scientists' role in the landmark desegregation case Brown v. Board of Education.“
“A wide reading of manuscript sources, court cases, and secondary works. . . . A very good book that is well worth the reading.”
“Jackson's excellent study. . . . places the fight against segregation within a much broader historical context. . . . It greatly illuminates the development of social science knowledge about the crucial topic of race in modern America.”
Review
“Empires and Indigenes offers a valuable perspective not only on the cross-cultural dimensions of early-modern warfare but also on the differing styles of imperial expansion. As such, this collection is a significant addition to the global history of the period.”-Jeremy Black,author of War: A Short History
Review
“Empire and Indigenes needs to be read by historians, policy analysts, and military experts for important reassessments on intercultural warfare. With measured arguments, the authors challenge and qualify hallowed ‘truths of military and imperial history, such as the early modern military revolution or the easy defeats and subjugation of indigenous populations. This volume will surely mark a shift in how we understand warfare as a complex and contested form of intercultural engagement in empires.” -Elizabeth Mancke,co-editor of The Creation of the British Atlantic World
Synopsis
In one of the twentieth century's landmark Supreme Court cases, Brown v. Board of Education, social scientists such as Kenneth Clark helped to convince the Supreme Court Justices of the debilitating psychological effects of racism and segregation. John P. Jackson, Jr., examines the well-known studies used in support of Brown, such as Clarks famous “doll tests,” as well as decades of research on race which lead up to the case. Jackson reveals the struggles of social scientists in their effort to impact American law and policy on race and poverty and demonstrates that without these scientists, who brought their talents to bear on the most pressing issues of the day, we wouldnt enjoy the legal protections against discrimination we may now take for granted. For anyone interested in the history and legacy of Brown v. Board of Education, this is an essential book.
About the Author
Wayne E. Lee is Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His books include Barbarians and Brothers: Anglo-American Warfare, 1500-1865 and Empires and Indigenes: Intercultural Alliance, Imperial Expansion, and Warfare in the Early Modern World (NYU Press).