Connecting Continents: Archaeology and History in the Indian Ocean World

The Indian Ocean region has attracted attention from anthropologists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, and other researchers, but archaeologists and interdisciplinary approaches have been missing. Connecting Continents aims to promote collaborative research and shape the research agenda for the region, focusing on migration, colonization, and cultural syncretism. It provides a model for multidisciplinary approaches to studying other parts of the globe.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 428 pages
Publication date: 19 December 2023
Publisher: Ohio University Press

In recent years, the vast and culturally diverse Indian Ocean region has garnered increasing attention from anthropologists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, and other researchers. However, a notable gap exists in the scholarly literature, with significant contributions by archaeologists and interdisciplinary approaches to studying the region's past and present being overlooked. Connecting Continents aims to address these two critical issues: fostering collaborative research on the Indian Ocean world and shaping the research agenda for a region that has recently begun to attract the serious interest of historical archaeologists.

The archaeologists, historians, and other scholars who have contributed to this volume delve into important topics such as the nature and dynamics of migration, colonization, and cultural syncretism, which are fundamental to understanding the human experience in the Indian Ocean basin. This groundbreaking work also extends our understanding of emerging scholarly and popular interests, including how individuals construct and interpret their heritage and leverage exciting new technologies like DNA and environmental analysis. By adopting an explicitly comparative approach to the Indian Ocean, Connecting Continents offers a compelling model for multidisciplinary approaches to studying other parts of the globe.

The contributors to this volume are a diverse group of experts from various fields, including archaeology, history, anthropology, and political science. Their contributions provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on the Indian Ocean region, shedding light on its rich history, complex cultural dynamics, and ongoing challenges.

In conclusion, Connecting Continents is a groundbreaking work that fills a significant gap in the scholarly literature on the Indian Ocean region. By promoting collaborative research and interdisciplinary approaches, it contributes to our understanding of the past, present, and future of this vital and diverse region. The contributions of the contributors offer valuable insights and perspectives that will undoubtedly shape the future of research on the Indian Ocean world.

Weight: 616g
Dimension: 227 x 153 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780821426166