Distant Shores by Professor Melissa Macauley (Hardback Book)

Name: Distant Shores by Professor Melissa Macauley (Hardback Book)
Brand: Princeton University Press

Princeton University Press

Distant Shores: Colonial Encounters on China's Maritime Frontier offers a groundbreaking history that redefines our understanding of the colonial era and China's role within it. This hardcover book challenges the traditional view of China as solely a land empire, revealing the significant maritime and colonial ambitions of southeastern Chinese communities that rivaled European powers. Professor Melissa Macauley traces the economic expansion of Chaozhou, a region in Guangdong, highlighting how its people leveraged a shared set of cultural and economic practices to become commercial leaders across the South China Sea. The narrative spans from the Industrial Revolution to the Great Depression, illustrating how Chaozhouese migrants thrived in ports like Bangkok, Singapore, and Hong Kong, building power through familial and commercial networks without establishing formal governance. This magisterial work reveals a convergence between Chinese and European modernity in colonial settings, crucial for modern development and capital accumulation. It is a must-read for anyone interested in global history, Chinese history, and the intricacies of colonial encounters. Product Summary: History book, Hardcover, English language, 376 pages, published by Princeton University Press in 2021. Features detailed exploration of China's maritime frontier and colonial encounters.