Novodobé říše - Rozmach a úpadek koloniálních impérií – Aldrich Robert (2021)

This history book examines colonial empires in all their forms, which shaped the political maps of the world for more than five centuries, from the Renaissance to the present day. Edited by Robert Aldrich, professor of European history at the University of Sydney, it surveys thirteen empires built by the Ottoman Empire, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, the Scandinavian states, Great Britain, France, Russia in both its imperial and Soviet forms, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Italy and the United States. Drawing on modern scholarship, the individual chapters explore the different roles of men and women in settling colonies, as well as the empires’ influence on ecology and eating habits. The book also concisely describes the political and commercial interests of the individual powers, alongside stories of tension, cruelty, conflict, heroism and great discoveries. The text is supplemented with maps of exploration, a chronology of conquest, a pantheon of conquerors, settlers and officials, overviews of gains and losses, colour illustrations and much more information about the empires and their key role in building today’s global civilisation.