Archaeology and Colonialism Cultural Contact from 5000 BC to the Present [Paperback]

A comparative survey of 5000 years of colonialism.Archaeology is the only discipline that allows us to take a long-term view across all forms of colonialism, from the Uruk cities of early Mesopotamia, through the empires of the Romans and the Aztecs, to the colonies of modern European states. In this innovative study, Chris Gosden presents a comparative survey of 7000 years of colonialism. He argues that modern colonialism, giving rise to settler societies, is historically unusual and that colonialism in general represents an important area for the long-term study of power and material culture.Archaeology is the only discipline that allows us to take a long-term view across all forms of colonialism, from the Uruk cities of early Mesopotamia, through the empires of the Romans and the Aztecs, to the colonies of modern European states. In this innovative study, Chris Gosden presents a comparative survey of 7000 years of colonialism. He argues that modern colonialism, giving rise to settler societies, is historically unusual and that colonialism in general represents an important area for the long-term study of power and material culture.Ranging from the Uruk cities of early Mesopotamia, through the empires of the Romans and the Aztecs, to the colonies of modern European states, Chris Gosden presents a comparative survey of 7,000 years of colonialism. (Archaeology is the only discipline that permits such a long-term view across all forms of colonialism.) Gosden argues that modern colonialism, by giving rise to settler societies, is historically unusual and represents an important area for the long-term study of power and material culture.1. Introduction; 2. Other approaches to colonialism; 3. A model of colonialism; 4. Colonialism within a shared cultural milieu; 5. The middle ground; 6. Terra nullius; 7. Power.'Archaeology and Colonialism is a highly readable reassessment of colonialism & Archaeology and Colonialism is an enjoyable and useful book. Through its concentrlh