The Great Land Rush and the Making of the Modern World, 1650-1900 [Hardcover]

John C. Weaver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2003

"The Great Land Rush and the Making of the Modern World, 1650-1900" describes the appropriation and distribution of land by Europeans in the new world. By integrating the often violent history of colonization of this period and the ensuing emergence of property rights with an examination of the decline of an aristocratic ruling class and the growth of democracy and the market economy, John Weaver describes how the landscapes of North America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa were transformed by the pursuit of resources. He also underscores the tragic history of the indigenous peoples of these regions and shoes how they came to lose 'possession' of their land to newly formed governments made up of Europeans with European interests at heart.Weaver shows that the enormous efforts involved in defining and registering large numbers of newly carved-out parcels of property for reallocation during the Great Land Rush were instrumental in the emergence of much stronger concepts of property rights and argues that this period was marked by a complete disregard for previous notions of restraint on dreams of unlimited material possibility. Today, while the traditional forms of colonization that marked the Great Land Rush are no longer practiced by the European powers and their progeny in the new world, the legacy of this period can be seen in the western powers' insatiable thirst for economic growth, including newer forms of economic colonization of underdeveloped countries, and a continuing evolution of the concepts of property rights, including the development and increasing growth in importance of intellectual property rights.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A superb piece of work, unusual in its breadth. It engages no less than the whole of the British and American worlds and Weaver has considerable professional knowledge in these areas. He has an amazing capacity to identify and synthesize the extant literature in a simple and compelling style." John Clarke, author of Land, Power, and Economics on the Frontier of Upper Canada /// The insightful analysis of various land rush episodes in frontier settlement makes this book special. Building on and complementing the existing literature, Weaver makes a unique contribution to our understanding. This work is a monumental achievement." Bruce Ziff, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta

About the Author

John C. Weaver is professor of history, McMaster University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 520 pages
• Publisher: Mcgill Queens Univ Pr (May 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0773525270
• ISBN-13: 978-0773525276
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,695,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive insights on the international power plays, August 9, 2003

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Land Rush and the Making of the Modern World, 1650-1900 (Hardcover)

The Great Land Rush And The Making Of The Modern World, 1650-1900 by John C. Weaver (Professor of History, McMaster University) knowledgeably examines how the European appropriation and distribution of land in the New World affected nations and civilizations. Covering the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, The Great Land Rush And The Making Of The Modern World, 1650-1900 is a thoughtful, scholarly, and confidently recommended analysis offering impressive insights on the international power plays and specific human interactions that shaped two and a half centuries of colonial era history.