In what would have been more accurately entitled; The Yankee; this fiery polemic exposes the perfidious character of the political and religious fanaticism which had waged a war of attrition against the South from the earliest days of the federal Union. Beginning with the persecuting intolerance of their unsettled Puritan forefathers; the author enumerates the long train of abuses of power and violation of the rights of others which have characterized a certain class of the New England people from their earliest settlements in the New World to the outbreak of the War Between the States; calling for the proverbial raising of the black flag in the South's then-current attempt to drive the Northern invader from her soil.
#107667 in Books Osterhammel Jurgen 2015-09-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.20 x 2.20 x 6.00l; .0 #File Name: 06911698021192 pagesThe Transformation of the World A Global History of the Nineteenth Century
Review
87 of 91 people found the following review helpful. OutstandingBy R. AlbinThis impressive book is a highly ambitious and very successful attempt to explore the major features and complexities of 19th century global history. Readers should have clear expectations and understanding of Osterhammel's aims before starting to read it. This is not a conventional narrative survey. To get the most out of this rich text; a decent prior knowledge of 19th century history; including both Western and non-Western regions; is necessary. Similar knowledge of 18th and 20th century events is useful as well. If you don't know; for example; something about the Taiping Rebellion or Meiji Restoration at the level of reading surveys of Chinese and Japanese history; you're likely to be at sea for parts of the book. Osterhammel's goal is to move past the basic narratives to explore major similarities and differences in the increasingly interdigitated world that emerged in the course of the 19th century. While some will find this off-putting (see some of the other reviews); this feature and Osterhammel's remarkable depth of knowledge provide an unprecedented view of the 19th century. Osterhammel is also a fine writer (and appears to be translated very well by Patrick Cammiler) with a talent for telling language.My recommendation is that readers start with the first 3 chapters; and then read the final; short; interpretative concluding chapter; followed by the rest of the book. The book opens with 3 chapters called Approaches that deal partly with theoretical-historiographic questions and also with how residents; so to speak; conceptualized many aspects of the world they inhabited. This is; to a considerable extent; a exploration of the "mentalites" of the 19th century but also a discussion of our present strengths and limitations in analyzing the 19th century past. I suspect many readers will find parts of these sections excessively theoretical but they are actually quite important and very thoughtful. Grasping Osterhammel's points in these sections really enhances reading of the following chapters. The short concluding chapter returns concisely to some of the issues raised in the first 3 chapters and contains an explicit identification of some important and distinctive themes that Osterhammel sees as emerging from his remarkably broad discussions of many regions and societies. Reading this concluding section may help to navigate some of the data-rich discussions in the great majority of chapters in the book. Osterhammel identifies 5 major themes of 19th century history - asymmetric efficiency growth; increased mobility; asymmetric reference density; tension between equality and hierarchy; and emancipation. Its beyond the scope of a short review to discuss what Osterhammel means by these themes; but asymmetric efficiency growth; for example; encompasses such phenomena as industrialization; increasing state power; and the institutionalization of scientific research. Understanding what Osterhammel means by these themes and how he explores them is one of the chief delights of this book.The great body of the book is divided into 2 sections; Panoramas and Themes. The chapters in the Panoramas section are broad and deep discussions of important phenomena across the globe and including analyses of how these things changed during the 19 century. Osterhammel discusses demographic changes; international migration; living standards and material culture; the dynamic nature of cities; the importance of frontiers and frontier-settler states; the fate of traditional and nomadic socities; the role of imperial states; international politics; political revolutions across the globe; and the changing nature of the state. The Themes chapters isolate a few key areas for discussion. These include industrialization per se; the growth of scientific knowledge; changes in social structures; religion; and racism and related concepts.All chapters are impressive in terms of many comparisons and analyses across the globe. Osterhammel's erudition is remarkable and each chapter is considerably more than an interesting accounting of similarities and differences. Osterhammel has many; many shrewd analyses of general phenomena driven by his impressive knowledge. His discussions; for example; of the nature of empires and its relationship to emerging nationalism; what constitutes a political revolutioni; and the importance of the modern university are strong cases in point. As a really nice bonus; the bibliography is outstanding.There are a few minor defects. As is usually the case; the publisher has scrimped by using endnotes; rather than footnotes. Maps and well chosen illustrations would have enhanced the book. Like most historians; Osterhammel relies primarily on verbal descriptions. He uses some tables but more use of appropriate charts and tables would allow concise presentation of important data. These are; however; very minor complaints about a really first-rate book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A solid undertaking of the 19th C eventsBy Eddie ChooThis is a really solid book that aimed for both depth and breadth at the range of historical events. Osterhammer really tried to look at the major events that happened in the 19th C and to trace their histories. Worth reading.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Brilliant; encyclopedic coverage of the 19th and some of ...By John D.Brilliant; encyclopedic coverage of the 19th and some of the 18th and 20th centuries' history!Lucidly written for the layman (me); and; I would guess; adequately referenced; footnoted and organized for the scholars.What a balanced comprehensive work!
