May 17, 2016
In this episode, Matt and I chat
with Niklas Frykman about the Age of Revolutions! We start by
discussing life on an 18th century ship (including a mention of the
Diligent by Robert Harms), impressment, cosmopolitan sailors, and
why Master and Commander might not qualify as a documentary. We
then shift our focus to the Age of Revolutions as a unit in world
history, and why it should begin with slave revolts in the
Caribbean (like Tacky’s Revolt in Jamaica in 1760) and Pontiac’s
War in the American colonies rather than the Enlightenment.
Finally, Niklas’ research, including the mutiny on the Hermione and
the 1797 Spithead mutinies, takes center stage as we debate what
motivates mutineers (for a different perspective, see the Stuff You
Missed in History Class podcast on the Batavia), and whether life
at sea creates a novel sense of community among sailors.
Recommendations are:
Dave
– McNeill, Mosquito Empires
Niklas – Serna, “Every Revolution is a War for
Independence” from The French Revolution in Global
Perspective and Zappia, “Revolutions in the Grass” from
Environmental History.
Matt
– Rediker, The Amistad Rebellion