In highlighting the role of East Africa's commercial connections to the Middle East and India during the colonial period, this book makes a major contribution to African history as part of world history. Conventional history assumes that the rise of the steamship trade killed off the Indian ocean dhow trade in the twentieth century. This study argues that the dhow economy played a major role in shaping the economic and social lifeof colonial Zanzibar. Dhows and the regional trade they fostered allowed a class of indigenous entrepreneurs to thrive in Zanzibar. These entrepreneurs, whose economic interests stretched across continents and colonial boundaries, were able to thwart or shape many of the colonial state's pet projects. Not only did steamships fail to drive out indigenous sailing craft, but in some cases dhows were able to drive the steamer out of specific market niches. North America: Ohio U Press; Tanzania: Zanzibar Gallery

About the Author
Erik Gilbert is Assistant Professor of History at Arkansas State University.

Reviews
This agreeably written and copiously illustrated book deserves a wide audience, especially from maritime historians and those studying the East African coast. -- Michael Pearson * INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MARITIME HISTORY *
In this welcome book Erik Gilbert addresses the history of the dhow from 1860 to 1970... a much-needed study of a neglected area of maritime history and will be a vital part of any maritime historian's library and initiates a number of elegantly argued debates that will provoke us for a long time. -- Kenneth McPherson * INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY *
Professor Gilbert of Arkansas State University presents a colourful narrative on the long drawn out economic warfare which lasted throughout the colonial period. * NEW HISTORY *
...an interesting and pleasingly slim and accessible volume -- Ashley Jackson * TANZANIAN AFFAIRS *
...presents a convincing, practical analysis of the considerations that led to the success of the dhow in the Zanzibar economy and tells an interesting tale in an interesting manner. * ROYAL SOCIETY OF ASIAN AFFAIRS *
... a valuable and welcome contribution to the literature on both Zanzibar and East Africa, as well as the growing body of literature on the Indian Ocean world. ...Clearly this volume is an excellent resource for scholars as well as a useful, thought provoking text for any graduate or undergraduate seminar. * ITINERARIO *
Cette brillante etude constitue la biographie passionnante d'un objet etroitement lie a un art de vivre. - -- Danielle de Lame * JOURNAL DES AFRICANISTES *



Book Information
ISBN 9780852554852
Author Erik Gilbert
Format Paperback
Page Count 190
Imprint James Currey
Publisher James Currey