Overview

Orientalism and Empire sheds new light on the little-studied Russian empire in the Caucasus by exploring the tension between national and imperial identities on the Russian frontier. Austin Jersild contributes to the growing literature on Russian ""orientalism"" and the Russian encounter with Islam, and reminds us of the imperial background and its contribution to the formation of the twentieth-century ethno-territorial Soviet state. Orientalism and Empire describes the efforts of imperial integration and incorporation that emerged in the wake of the long war. Jersild discusses religion, ethnicity, archaeology, transcription of languages, customary law, and the fate of Shamil to illustrate the work of empire-builders and the emerging imperial imagination. Drawing on both Russian and Georgian materials from Tbilisi, he shows how shared cultural concerns between Russians and Georgians were especially important to the formation of the empire in the region.

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9780773523296

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Without question, this book is a significant contribution to its field. It is an important study that historians of the Russian Empire as well as scholars of modern European imperialism and colonialism should read. Francis Wcislo, Department of History, Vanderbilt University /// A thoroughly researched, broadly conceived study that overarches several important new veins in Russian historiography. In doing so, Jersild shows the complexities attendant on a set of events - the conquest of the Caucasian region - that historians have traditionally understood in a one-dimensional fashion. He also brings to bear a great deal of interesting and original evidence. This is a well-crafted study with a fine eye for telling detail, and that casts new light on its topic. David McDonald, Department of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison

""Without question, this book is a significant contribution to its field. It is an important study that historians of the Russian Empire as well as scholars of modern European imperialism and colonialism should read."" Francis Wcislo, Department of History, Vanderbilt University /// ""A thoroughly researched, broadly conceived study that overarches several important new veins in Russian historiography. In doing so, Jersild shows the complexities attendant on a set of events - the ""conquest"" of the Caucasian region - that historians have traditionally understood in a one-dimensional fashion. He also brings to bear a great deal of interesting and original evidence. This is a well-crafted study with a fine eye for telling detail, and that casts new light on its topic."" David McDonald, Department of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison

"""Without question, this book is a significant contribution to its field. It is an important study that historians of the Russian Empire as well as scholars of modern European imperialism and colonialism should read."" Francis Wcislo, Department of History, Vanderbilt University /// ""A thoroughly researched, broadly conceived study that overarches several important new veins in Russian historiography. In doing so, Jersild shows the complexities attendant on a set of events - the ""conquest"" of the Caucasian region - that historians have traditionally understood in a one-dimensional fashion. He also brings to bear a great deal of interesting and original evidence. This is a well-crafted study with a fine eye for telling detail, and that casts new light on its topic."" David McDonald, Department of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison"

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