Dislocating the Orient: British Maps and the Making of the Middle East, 1854-1921

The concept of the Middle East has been largely ignored, but Daniel Foliard's book Dislocating the Orient reveals how it was created through maps, knowledge, and ignorance. The British first defined the Middle East as a geopolitical and cartographic region in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but their colonial activities led to the reimagining of boundaries and the transformation of the area's geography.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 320 pages
\n Publication date: 26 October 2020
\n Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
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The origins of the concept of the Middle East have been largely ignored, despite the conflicting visions and exploitation of the region in the twentieth century. Daniel Foliard's book, Dislocating the Orient, seeks to shed light on the creation of this imagined region by exploring how maps, knowledge, and blind ignorance all played a role. Foliard vividly illustrates how the British first defined the Middle East as a geopolitical and cartographic region in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries through their imperial maps. Until then, the region had been indistinguishable from "the East" or "the Orient." However, as the British engaged in colonial activities, they began to perceive the Middle East as a separate and distinct part of the world, with profound consequences that continue to be felt today.

During their colonial era, the British produced, disputed, and dramatically transformed the geography of the Middle East, both culturally and physically. They reimagined boundaries, leading to the creation of new states and the division of existing territories. This process resulted in the displacement of populations, the alteration of cultural practices, and the development of new economic and political systems.

Dislocating the Orient is a valuable resource for historians of the Middle East, the British empire, cultural geography, and cartography. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the historical processes that shaped the concept of the Middle East and its geographical boundaries. By examining the role of maps, knowledge, and ignorance in the construction of this imagined region, Foliard offers a fresh perspective on the complex and multifaceted history of the Middle East.

\n Weight: 592g\n
Dimension: 179 x 254 x 22 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780226755724\n \n