The Crimean War in Imperial Context, 1854–1856

Review

“This ambitious and clever study illuminates the often-forgotten global aspects of the Crimean War. Andrew Rath brings together a tremendous amount of primary source material in eight languages to re-frame this struggle within the story of European empire and modernization in the mid-19th century. This is fine argument for the continued dynamism of military and diplomatic history and may convince readers to re-think their understanding of this important 19th century conflict.” (Society for Military History (SMH))

Product Description

The Crimean War was fought far from its namesake peninsula in Ukraine. Until now, accounts of Britain's and France's naval campaigns against Czarist Russia in the Baltic, White Sea, and Pacific have remained fragmented, minimized, or thinly-referenced. This book considers each campaign from an imperial perspective extending from South America to Finland. Ultimately, this regionally-focused approach reveals that even the smallest Anglo-French naval campaigns in the remote White Sea had significant consequences in fields ranging from medical advances to international maritime law. Considering the perspectives of neutral powers including China, Japan, and Sweden-Norway, allows Rath to examine the Crimean conflict's impact on major historical events ranging from the 'opening' of Tokugawa Japan to Russia's annexation of large swaths of Chinese territory. Complete with customized maps and an extensive reference section, this will become essential reading for a varied audience.

Review

From the Back Cover

About the Author

Andrew Rath received his Ph.D. in History from McGill University, Canada. He and his wife Sarah live in Bethesda, Maryland.