The Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400-1900
"The Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400- 1900, is a welcome addition to the growing scholarship on the history of the Atlantic World. Benjamin's narrative, supplemented by the voices of contemporary Atlantic World inhabitants, deftly illustrates the complex connections that have historically joined people and places around the Atlantic Basin. The text's chronological and geographic breadth make it an ideal resource for scholars and students alike." - Dr. Rebecca Hartkopf Schloss, Texas A & M University"Benjamin's is a sweeping, learned, and comprehensive history of the making  and undoing of a transnational world that the peoples of Africa, Europe, and  the Americas created together from roughly 1450 to 1850. Benjamin traces the  rise and decline of an Iberian Atlantic followed by one dominated by the  French and the British. Both systems to work, however, relied on forced  labor systems and fluid but unequal sexual commerce between the races. The  system came to an end with a protracted 'Age of Revolutions' that shattered  empires, emancipated slaves, and brought notions of equality to the fore,  but that also marginalized Africa from the global economy." -Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra. University of Texas at Austin."Both erudite and accessible, The Atlantic World is the perfect textbook for courses on the interaction between Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans in the early modern period.  Professor Benjamin has achieved just the right tone, length, and detailed coverage, without losing sight of the larger picture.  His years of reading widely on myriad topics has paid off handsomely, to the benefit of instructors and students alike." - Matthew Restall, The Pennsylvania State University"One of the leading teachers and scholars in the field of Atlantic history, Benjamin (Central Michigan Univ.) has written the most comprehensive survey of the field from the Age of Exploration through the revolutions of the early 19th century and the abolition of slavery. While suitable as a course textbook for upper-division classes, Benjamin's work includes rich materials for scholars and other experts in the field. He also seeks to synthesize some of the key historiographical questions. The author interweaves primary source texts with the narrative and uses maps, tables, and illustrations to excellent effect throughout. While recognizing that Europeans were the main actors in this story, the author pays considerable attention to the interactions that created the Atlantic world. Benjamin reminds readers that the number of Africans forced to emigrate was much greater than the number of Europeans who came to the Americas. In addition, the book is particularly strong at comparing and contrasting the actions of the various European nations as well as the diversity of the Native peoples. In sum, this seems likely to become the standard text in the field of Atlantic history. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries."- J. Mercantini, Kean University, CHOICE"...The Atlantic World is a good representation of the themes of the New Atlantic History, which focuses on exactly the sort of questions and interactions that Benjamin chooses. It is particularly commendable for the ease with which both Americas and Africa are included in the Atlantic World. He has been attentive to recent literature and themes. ...On the whole, then, the book is likely to be a worthwhile textbook for classes devoted to the New Atlantic History at the undergraduate level."John K. Thornton, Boston University, African Studies Quarterly"...this reviewer highly recommends Benjamin's The Atlantic World for both the classroom and the library." Charles H. Ford, The Historian"The Atlantic World synthesizes material from a wide array of sources and should be read by those interested in Atlantic, Latin American, and United States history as well as world history. It would also be useful as a supplementary text in courses on Atlantic history." -Wilfred Bison, World History Connected"This is a highly lucid and readable textbook synthesis of five centuries of Atlantic world history." -Catherine Desbarats, Canadian Journal of History