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The Resource Empires of opportunity : German scholars between Asia and Europe in the 1850s, Moritz von Brescius

Empires of opportunity : German scholars between Asia and Europe in the 1850s, Moritz von Brescius

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Contributor
Summary
This thesis investigates the involvement of German scientific experts in the British Empire in Asia during the mid-nineteenth century. My study focuses in particular on a small band of scholars <U+0127> � the three Munich-born Schlagintweit brothers <U+0127> � who between 1854 and 1857 found employment in the East India Company, a former trading body that came to rule large parts of the Indian subcontinent. This central case study is used to demonstrate how the German lands, a country without colonies at the time, provided the scientific expertise for the exploration, administration, and exploitation of territories in South and Central Asia. Inspired by the paradigm of global history, my study makes a significant contribution to the recent endeavour to understand the transnational nature of European imperial systems in the modern period. In turn, I also assess how the contributions and 'sacrifices' of German scientists to the overseas rule of other European powers led to increasing claims by German politicians, journalists and public agitators that their own nation had also earned the status of a formal imperial power. By exploring the volatile nexus between science, empire, and popular discourses in Britain, India and the German lands, I reveal key elements of transnational collaboration and competition in around the mid-nineteenth century. The main focus of my analysis is on the problem of scientific authority, and how it is negotiated and contested in a transnational arena. The figure of the itinerant scientist is used to explore the fragile nature of scholarly reputation in the overlapping contexts of overseas exploration, metropolitan science and multiple public spheres in Europe
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
xv, 483 pages
Note
Examining Board : Profesoor Dr. Antonella Romano (EUI / EHESS Paris) ; Professor Dr. Jürgen Osterhammel (University of Konstanz) ; Professor Dr. Simon Schaffer (University of Cambridge) ; Professor Dr. Jorge Flores (EUI)
Instance
Label
Empires of opportunity : German scholars between Asia and Europe in the 1850s
Title
Empires of opportunity
Title remainder
German scholars between Asia and Europe in the 1850s
Statement of responsibility
Moritz von Brescius
Creator
Contributor
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
This thesis investigates the involvement of German scientific experts in the British Empire in Asia during the mid-nineteenth century. My study focuses in particular on a small band of scholars <U+0127> � the three Munich-born Schlagintweit brothers <U+0127> � who between 1854 and 1857 found employment in the East India Company, a former trading body that came to rule large parts of the Indian subcontinent. This central case study is used to demonstrate how the German lands, a country without colonies at the time, provided the scientific expertise for the exploration, administration, and exploitation of territories in South and Central Asia. Inspired by the paradigm of global history, my study makes a significant contribution to the recent endeavour to understand the transnational nature of European imperial systems in the modern period. In turn, I also assess how the contributions and 'sacrifices' of German scientists to the overseas rule of other European powers led to increasing claims by German politicians, journalists and public agitators that their own nation had also earned the status of a formal imperial power. By exploring the volatile nexus between science, empire, and popular discourses in Britain, India and the German lands, I reveal key elements of transnational collaboration and competition in around the mid-nineteenth century. The main focus of my analysis is on the problem of scientific authority, and how it is negotiated and contested in a transnational arena. The figure of the itinerant scientist is used to explore the fragile nature of scholarly reputation in the overlapping contexts of overseas exploration, metropolitan science and multiple public spheres in Europe
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Cataloging source
FIE
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Brescius, Moritz von
Date time place
Defence date: 17 February 2015
Dissertation note
Thesis (Ph. D.)--European University Institute (HEC), 2015.
Index
no index present
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
theses
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorName
European University Institute
Series statement
  • EUI PhD theses
  • EUI theses
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Scholars
  • Scientists
  • Great Britain
  • Germany
  • Great Britain
Label
Empires of opportunity : German scholars between Asia and Europe in the 1850s, Moritz von Brescius
Instantiates
Publication
Note
Examining Board : Profesoor Dr. Antonella Romano (EUI / EHESS Paris) ; Professor Dr. Jürgen Osterhammel (University of Konstanz) ; Professor Dr. Simon Schaffer (University of Cambridge) ; Professor Dr. Jorge Flores (EUI)
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (p. 413-450)
Control code
FIEb17664767
Dimensions
30 cm.
Extent
xv, 483 pages
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
(OCoLC)914480752
Label
Empires of opportunity : German scholars between Asia and Europe in the 1850s, Moritz von Brescius
Publication
Note
Examining Board : Profesoor Dr. Antonella Romano (EUI / EHESS Paris) ; Professor Dr. Jürgen Osterhammel (University of Konstanz) ; Professor Dr. Simon Schaffer (University of Cambridge) ; Professor Dr. Jorge Flores (EUI)
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (p. 413-450)
Control code
FIEb17664767
Dimensions
30 cm.
Extent
xv, 483 pages
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
(OCoLC)914480752

Subject

Member of

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