A Global History of Ginseng: Imperialism, Modernity and Orientalism

The international ginseng trade has a long history, revealing the cultural aspects of international capitalism and its impact on relations between the East and the West. Ginseng emerged as a major commodity in the seventeenth century, but Western pharmacology disparaged it. It was discovered on the American continent and became a key export to Asia, but never cultivated a significant domestic market. This book provides a unique perspective on the impact of culture and economics on international trade.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 08 July 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Suls history of the international ginseng trade reveals the cultural aspects of international capitalism and the impact of this single commodity on relations between the East and the West.

Ginseng emerged as a major international commodity in the seventeenth century, when the East India Company began trading it westward. Europeans were drawn to the plants efficacy as a medicine, but their attempts to transplant it for mass production were unsuccessful. Also, due to a failure of extracting its active ingredients, Western pharmacology disparaged ginseng in the process of modernization.

In the meantime, ginseng was discovered on the American continent and became one of the United States key exports to Asia and particularly China, but never cultivated a significant domestic market. As such, historicizing the ginseng trade provides a unique perspective on the impact of both culture and economics on international trade.

A compelling interdisciplinary history of over five centuries of East–West trade and cultural exchange, this book will be invaluable to students and scholars of transnational history and a fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of international trade.

Weight: 434g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032261416