Colonialism in Southeast Asia in the late pre-modern period

Summary

Colonialism takes two overlapping forms: settler colonialism where large, or small scale, migration of people creates colonies in places with a pre-existing population and exploitation colonialism where small groups of people established trading posts which controlled economic, cultural and political, power. Colonialism can be established either by aggressive means ‘ by warfare, invasion and conquest ‘ or by passive means through gaining control of the economic, ideological or political power structures. Both forms of colonialism can be addressed in trans-regional human movements relevant to the emergence and expansion of powerful polities in Asia during the pre-European period. The rise of the Yuan Dynasty in late 13th century China and attempts at aggressive colonialism by early Mongol Empire rulers was an example of the first form of colonialism. The first part of this paper will address an interpretative framework of the two overlapping forms of Colonialism outside of Eurocentric systems. The archaeological vestige of the maritime commercial and naval activities that resulted from the Yuan’s colonialist attitudes will be presented.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014   •
• Early Modern Colonialism in the Asia-Pacific Region

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-4,08