It also boggles my mind when people talk about the dark ages as if everyone around the globe was living like that?? While it was only europe living like that.
very refreshing!! the linear narrative of history is truly getting over-rinsed. There is a difference between clock time and constructs of time, and temporalities are multi-dimensional and exist at the same time. imperial/colonial histories are always partial, rising and declining at different times yet we are sold the idea of a clean beginning and end with so much context conveniently left out. thank you for this very digestible and thought provoking read!!
Interesting, educational and fascinating - as always. Pre & post colonialism rhetoric is ludicrous and yet so many institutions bind us to that language. There is a new exhibition in the British Museum (wish we could go together lol) about Chinas ancient trade routes, the Silk Roads, and (according to a review I read) it really profoundly challenges the way we think about boarders today. I know this is super loosely connected but colonialism 🤝 boarders.
ahh your perspective here is so so beyond refreshing! i’ve been working on a project at work and that necessitates a certain historical awareness and just today, my boss and i had a conversation on how we should split the timeline for historical research and she suggested that we divide it into “two clear timelines: pre colonialism and post colonialism” and it COMPLETELY baffled me!! the timing of this essay is scarily impeccable and i feel like you just gave me the tools i need to have this discussion with her🤭
your essay also has me thinking about other myopic binaries that have come about “post” colonisation — specifically the “developing” and “developed” categories. man, what a thought provoking piece, thank you!
Yay I'm so glad! I truly think that all binaries are quite silly but ESPECIALLY when talking about history. There were and are so many possibilities at so many times and it's bizarre when I read stuff implying that certain things were always going to end up one way or another
It also boggles my mind when people talk about the dark ages as if everyone around the globe was living like that?? While it was only europe living like that.
very refreshing!! the linear narrative of history is truly getting over-rinsed. There is a difference between clock time and constructs of time, and temporalities are multi-dimensional and exist at the same time. imperial/colonial histories are always partial, rising and declining at different times yet we are sold the idea of a clean beginning and end with so much context conveniently left out. thank you for this very digestible and thought provoking read!!
Interesting, educational and fascinating - as always. Pre & post colonialism rhetoric is ludicrous and yet so many institutions bind us to that language. There is a new exhibition in the British Museum (wish we could go together lol) about Chinas ancient trade routes, the Silk Roads, and (according to a review I read) it really profoundly challenges the way we think about boarders today. I know this is super loosely connected but colonialism 🤝 boarders.
I'd love to go to the exhibit with you!! I *am* in London in Jan & we can see if we can figure something out
Omg how fun! I might see Silk Roads before BUT maybe not - either way, we can do something
this is an amazing piece,, I couldn't agree more !! history is much more nuanced than most people stop to realise
ahh your perspective here is so so beyond refreshing! i’ve been working on a project at work and that necessitates a certain historical awareness and just today, my boss and i had a conversation on how we should split the timeline for historical research and she suggested that we divide it into “two clear timelines: pre colonialism and post colonialism” and it COMPLETELY baffled me!! the timing of this essay is scarily impeccable and i feel like you just gave me the tools i need to have this discussion with her🤭
your essay also has me thinking about other myopic binaries that have come about “post” colonisation — specifically the “developing” and “developed” categories. man, what a thought provoking piece, thank you!
Yay I'm so glad! I truly think that all binaries are quite silly but ESPECIALLY when talking about history. There were and are so many possibilities at so many times and it's bizarre when I read stuff implying that certain things were always going to end up one way or another