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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 April 2010
This article offers a preliminary outline of a theoretical concept to cover the precolonial phase of European overseas expansion. It considers the particular case of the Indian Ocean, which provides an exceptionally clear illustration of the need to link research into the expansion with the history of, and changes taking place within, the societies affected by it. What is necessary is to demonstrate the simultaneity and interaction of the region's social organi-sation with European Expansion. For this purpose I have used what may be called a systems approach.
1. G.M. Weinberg, “A Computer Approach to General System” and Orchard, R.A., “On the Approach to General Systems Theory”: in Trends in General Systems Theory, ed. Klir, G.J., New York, 1972 and alsoGoogle ScholarWeinberg, G.M., An Introduction to General Systems Thinking, New York, 1975Google Scholar.
2. Braudel, F., Civilisation Matérielle, Économie et Capita-lisme, XVe-XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 1979, vol. III, p. 12.Google Scholar
3. Wallerstein, I. considers the Indian Ocean as a Proto-World-Economy, “Rise and future demise of the Capitalist World Economy” in: The Capitalist World-Economy, Cambridge, 1979, p. 26.Google ScholarChaudhuri, K.N. accepts existence of many World-Economies with very clearly marked center “The World-System East of Longitude 20: The European Role in Asia 1500-1750”, Review, V, 2, Fall 1981, p. 226.Google Scholar
4. My understanding of culture is based mainly on White, L.A., The Concept of Cultural Systems. A Key to Understanding Tribes and Nations, New York, 1975.Google ScholarBraudel, Cf., op. cit. p. 51 and Wallerstein, I., “Civilisation and Modes of Production: Conflicts and Convergences”, Theory and Society, 5, 1978, p. 3–6Google Scholar.
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6. The concept is of Wilkinson, R., Poverty and Progress. An Ecological Model of Economic Development, London, 1973.Google ScholarSachs, Cf. I., “Environnement et styles de développement”, Annales ESC, 3, 1974 andGoogle ScholarBoulding, K.E., Ecodynamics. A New Theory of Societal Evolution, Beverly Hills, 1978, p. 136Google Scholar.
7. More about progressive and backward states of social systems in Kieniewicz, J., “Aspekty historyczne rozwojuw krajach Trzeciego Swiata” (Historical Aspects of Development in the “Third World's” Countries), Przeglad Histo-ryczny, LXXI, 4, Warsaw, 1980, p. 735–737.Google Scholar
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9. About Europeans in Asian Trade and Warfare, Boxer, cf. books of C.R. and Chaudhuri, K.N. as well as Steensgaard Das Gupta and Pearson. I discussed this aspect in Faktoria i Forteca. Handel pieprzem na Oceanie Indyjskim i Ekspansja Portugalska w XVI wieku (The Factory and Fortress. The Pepper Trade over Indian Ocean and Portuguese Expansion in the 16th Century), Warsaw, 1970.Google Scholar
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12. Some aspects of this problem are discussed in Pearson, M.N., “Corruption and Corsairs in Sixteenth-Century Western India: A Functional Analysis” in The Age of Partnership, op. cit. p. 20 Overwhelmingness is a new-coined term I have chosen from the OxfordEnglish Dictionary.Google Scholar
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