The Ideological Origins of the British Empire

The Ideological Origins of the British Empire offers a comprehensive history of British conceptions of empire spanning more than half a century. David Armitage meticulously traces the emergence of British imperial identity from the mid-sixteenth to the mid-eighteenth centuries, drawing on an extensive range of manuscript and printed sources.

Key Features:

• Interconnected Histories: The book links the histories of England, Scotland, and Ireland with the broader history of the British Empire, showcasing how ideology served as a crucial bridge between state-formation and empire-building.
• Exploration of Major Thinkers: It provides insight into major British political thinkers, from Sir Thomas Smith to David Hume.
• Fascinating Themes:
  • The 'British problem' during the early modern period.
  • The relationship between Protestantism and empire.
  • Theories of property, liberty, and political economy viewed through an imperial lens.
  • The imperial role in shaping British 'identities' within the Atlantic world.

This book sheds light on the essential ideological underpinnings of the British Empire and its profound influence on political thought and identity formation during a pivotal historical period.