Cargoes in Motion: Materiality and Connectivity across the Indian Ocean

Cargoes in Motion is an innovative collection of essays that highlights the role of cargoes in connecting the Indian Ocean world. It explores how material objects have informed and shaped processes of exchange across the ocean, contributing to a deeper understanding of the region's nature and dynamics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 358 pages
Publication date: 19 December 2023
Publisher: Ohio University Press

Scholars have long recognized the importance of trade and commerce in understanding the connectivity and mobility that underpin human experiences in the Indian Ocean region. However, studies of merchant and commercial activities have overlooked the role that cargoes have played in connecting the diverse parts of this vast oceanic world. Cargoes in Motion, a groundbreaking collection of essays, seeks to rectify this oversight by exploring the multifaceted role of cargoes in shaping processes of exchange across the Indian Ocean.

Drawing from the expertise of anthropologists, geographers, and historians, the book delves into the historical and contemporary significance of cargoes in the Indian Ocean. It traces the journey of selected cargoes through both space and time, providing a rich and nuanced understanding of the ways in which material objects have informed and continue to shape economic, social, cultural, and political interactions in the region.

By adopting a multidisciplinary approach, Cargoes in Motion offers a profound insight into the nature and dynamics of the Indian Ocean world. It demonstrates how transoceanic connectivity has been driven not only by economic, social, cultural, and political factors but also by the materiality of the objects themselves. The essays in the book explore a wide range of topics, including the trade of spices, textiles, and precious metals, the transportation of goods and people, and the cultural and social impacts of cargoes on communities and societies.

One of the key contributions of Cargoes in Motion is its ability to bridge the gap between different academic disciplines. The authors bring together expertise from various fields, including history, anthropology, geography, and sociology, to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary analysis of the role of cargoes in the Indian Ocean. This approach not only deepens our understanding of the region but also highlights the interconnectedness of different aspects of human experience.

Another notable aspect of the book is its attention to the historical and cultural contexts in which cargoes have operated. It explores the ways in which the materiality of cargoes has influenced the development of trade networks, the formation of social hierarch

The multidisciplinary approach deepens our understanding of the nature and dynamics of the Indian Ocean world by showing how transoceanic connectivity has been driven not only by economic, social, cultural, and political factors but also by the materiality of the objects themselves.

In conclusion, Cargoes in Motion is a groundbreaking collection of essays that offers a fresh and innovative perspective on the role of cargoes in shaping processes of exchange across the Indian Ocean. By highlighting the materiality of the objects themselves, the book makes an important and innovative contribution to Indian Ocean studies. It is a must-read for scholars, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding the complex and multifaceted nature of the Indian Ocean world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780821426159