The Tools of Empire: Technology and European Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century
Daniel R. HeadrickThe author exemplifies the interconnected histories of the collaboration of politics, legislation, technological innovation and capital in the success of the steamship lobby in pushing for investment in gunboats in the British empire that Headrick traces, among other similar narratives pertaining to other technologies. This book sits at the crossroads of the history of technology, economic history and the history of European imperialism, and explores how specific technologies made specific developments in European imperialism possible. It is extremely well-researched, lucidly written and well-organized. I particularly enjoyed the way Headrick has followed the paper trail at the archives to trace the various developments that he tracks. One needs to realize, however, that his sources are official Parliamentary papers and documents of the English East India Company archives, which influences the kind of history he is able to tell. It is a history of powerful people making decisions and pushing their agenda that end up affecting millions of lives ...