Buying Time: Debt and Mobility in the Western Indian Ocean (New African Histories)

Name: Buying Time: Debt and Mobility in the Western Indian Ocean (New African Histories)
Price: 36.95 USD
Availability: InStock

$36.95

Buying Options

Description

Book Synopsis: In Buying Time, Thomas F. McDow synthesizes Indian Ocean, Middle Eastern, and East African studies as well as economic and social history to explain how, in the nineteenth century, credit, mobility, and kinship knit together a vast interconnected Indian Ocean region. That vibrant and enormously influential swath extended from the desert fringes of Arabia to Zanzibar and the Swahili coast and on to the Congo River watershed.

In the half century before European colonization, Africans and Arabs from coasts and hinterlands used newfound sources of credit to seek out opportunities, establish new outposts in distant places, and maintain families in a rapidly changing economy. They used temporizing strategies to escape drought in Oman, join ivory caravans in the African interior, and build new settlements.

The key to McDow’s analysis is a previously unstudied trove of Arabic business deeds that show complex variations on the financial transactions that underwrote the trade economy across the region. The documents list names, genealogies, statuses, and clan names of a wide variety of people—Africans, Indians, and Arabs; men and women; free and slave—who bought, sold, and mortgaged property. Through unprecedented use of these sources, McDow moves the historical analysis of the Indian Ocean beyond connected port cities to reveal the roles of previously invisible people.

Details

Are you ready to embark on a journey through time and space? Introducing "Buying Time: Debt and Mobility in the Western Indian Ocean" - a captivating book that unveils the hidden stories of credit, kinship, and mobility in the vast interconnected Indian Ocean region. Author Thomas F. McDow masterfully weaves together insights from Indian Ocean, Middle Eastern, and East African studies, offering you a unique perspective on the global history of trade and migration.

Step into a world where credit and opportunity collide, where Africans and Arabs from distant coasts and hinterlands leveraged newfound sources of credit to build new settlements and seek prosperity. Discover the fascinating temporizing strategies that allowed individuals to escape drought, embark on ivory caravans, and create thriving communities. McDow's groundbreaking research unveils a previously unstudied trove of Arabic business deeds, shining a light on the intricate web of financial transactions that underpinned the region's trade economy.

Unlike any other book on the subject, "Buying Time" gives voice to the previously invisible individuals who played vital roles in the Indian Ocean's history. Through these Arabic business deeds, you'll meet a diverse array of people - Africans, Indians, and Arabs; men and women; free and enslaved. This rich tapestry of narratives guarantees a compelling reading experience that challenges traditional perspectives and broadens your understanding of global interconnectedness.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to delve into this fascinating exploration of the Indian Ocean's past. Whether you're a history buff, a scholar, or simply someone seeking a captivating read, "Buying Time" promises to transport you to a world of adventure and discovery. Embrace the allure of the unknown and get your hands on a copy now!

Buy Now

See All Buying Options...

More Details...