An Economic History of Imperial Madagascar, 1750-1895
Auteur: Gwyn Campbell
Nombre de pages: 76 pages
ISBN: 0521839351, 9780521839358
Edition: Cambridge University Press
Date de publication: Cambridge University Press
Description: The first comprehensive economic history of pre-colonial Madagascar, this study examines the island's role from 1750 to 1895 in the context of a burgeoning international economy and the rise of modern European imperialism. This study reveals that the Merina of the Central Highlands attempted to found an island empire and through the exploitation of its human and natural resources build the economic and military might to challenge British and French pretensions in the region. Ultimately, the Merina failed due to imperial forced labour policies and natural disasters, the nefarious consequences of which (disease; depopulation; ethnic enmity) have in traditional histories been imputed external capitalist and French colonial policies.