Imagined Geographies

Abstract

A study of the history and geography of the pre-1800 world such as it touches the vast space linking the eastern Mediterranean with the Indian Ocean littoral, the Southeast Asian world, and the coast of China and Japan, this book argues that different regions astride the maritime silk roads were not merely interconnected waterways, but also “imagined geographies.” In turn five such geographic imaginaries are examined, specifically Indian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and European including an imagined Great South Land. Drawing upon an array of marine and other archaeological examples, the book offers evidence of the intertwining of political, cultural, and economic regions across the sea silk roads from ancient times until the early modern period, such as evidenced by the activities of arriving Europeans. By taking a broader civilizational approach, the book goes beyond simple national history and places the maritime realm within a greater spatial perspective to offer a decentered world regional history. Pitched at history lovers from all around the world, and deliberately avoiding the centrisms that come with national histories, the book should surely satisfy readers seeking to know more about how their forebears viewed their respective regions and how their region fits into world history with local uniqueness.