Janet Abu-Lughod published Before European Hegemony: The World System A.D 1250-1350 in at exactly the right time in history; it was 1989, and the world was on the cusp of a great economic revolution and transition not unlike that of the 13th century on which she focuses her book. Primarily, she aimed to prove that a Eurocentric world system was not a permanent fixture since the Fall of Rome, and “that there was no inherent historical necessity that shifted the [world economic] system to favour the West of the East”. She did this in studying Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and examining the roles of these regions in trade, production, innovation, and culture. With a discerning eye, Abu-Lughod picked apart existing research, analysis and
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According to Abu-Lughod, the fragmentation of the various empires created a vacuum in the Indian Ocean that the Europeans easily filled. Her final claim was that the 13th century decline throughout Asia allowed the Portuguese and subsequently other European nations to take over and dominate the world system. However, she did not provide sufficient evidence to suggest that the Europeans played a role other than simply being present and exerting power through swashbuckling coercion. Her conclusion that the Europeans dominated the world system as soon as they entered was abrupt and not consistent with the history of conquest she presented elsewhere. Although China and other regions were supposedly in decline, as Abu-Lughod stated elsewhere, they were still significantly more advanced technologically than Europeans nations of the era and it is unfounded that they would be completely in ruin so rapidly. She did not reference any transitional period in which both Western and Eastern powers would have interacted as equals in this zone, which is unfounded considering that even in a vulnerable state, China was still powerful as a world player. Victor Lieberman also took issue with this stance, and wondered “by what criteria does [Abu-Lughod] claim that era saw …show more content…
I knew nothing about a world system in Asia prior to reading this book. I have a newfound appreciation for the many areas of Asia that I had previous believed to be observers of development rather than important players in world history, such as Southeast Asia. Although this book has been available for nearly 30 years, not enough has been done to incorporate this thinking into classrooms. Like many other students, I was taught that European hegemony had always been a permanent feature of the world system. Even though research exists that says otherwise, there is still a knowledge gap among students in Canada regarding the role of Asia in world history both historically and in a modern context. This book is still relevant today, however so much has changed economically and societally in Asia since it was written that many of Abu-Lughod’s predictions for the future of the world system, such as the decline of capitalism, are now dated. As Linda Rose observed “history does not always cooperate with theory, and events since the book was written have mooted [Abu-Lughod’s] conclusion.” But, an inability to predict the future does not discredit the wealth and importance of the research presented in the book. As Rose continued, Before European Hegemony “…provides a useful corrective to works which underestimate the contributions of the
According to Abu-Lughod, the fragmentation of the various empires created a vacuum in the Indian Ocean that the Europeans easily filled. Her final claim was that the 13th century decline throughout Asia allowed the Portuguese and subsequently other European nations to take over and dominate the world system. However, she did not provide sufficient evidence to suggest that the Europeans played a role other than simply being present and exerting power through swashbuckling coercion. Her conclusion that the Europeans dominated the world system as soon as they entered was abrupt and not consistent with the history of conquest she presented elsewhere. Although China and other regions were supposedly in decline, as Abu-Lughod stated elsewhere, they were still significantly more advanced technologically than Europeans nations of the era and it is unfounded that they would be completely in ruin so rapidly. She did not reference any transitional period in which both Western and Eastern powers would have interacted as equals in this zone, which is unfounded considering that even in a vulnerable state, China was still powerful as a world player. Victor Lieberman also took issue with this stance, and wondered “by what criteria does [Abu-Lughod] claim that era saw …show more content…
I knew nothing about a world system in Asia prior to reading this book. I have a newfound appreciation for the many areas of Asia that I had previous believed to be observers of development rather than important players in world history, such as Southeast Asia. Although this book has been available for nearly 30 years, not enough has been done to incorporate this thinking into classrooms. Like many other students, I was taught that European hegemony had always been a permanent feature of the world system. Even though research exists that says otherwise, there is still a knowledge gap among students in Canada regarding the role of Asia in world history both historically and in a modern context. This book is still relevant today, however so much has changed economically and societally in Asia since it was written that many of Abu-Lughod’s predictions for the future of the world system, such as the decline of capitalism, are now dated. As Linda Rose observed “history does not always cooperate with theory, and events since the book was written have mooted [Abu-Lughod’s] conclusion.” But, an inability to predict the future does not discredit the wealth and importance of the research presented in the book. As Rose continued, Before European Hegemony “…provides a useful corrective to works which underestimate the contributions of the