Oceanic Topographies: Routes, Ships, Voyagers
In: Navigating Cultural Spaces: Maritime Places
Author:
Gesa Mackenthun
Gesa Mackenthun
Search for other papers by Gesa Mackenthun in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Gesa Mackenthun in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
World history has notoriously been written in terms of nations and continents, relegating maritime zones to little relevant attachments of mainland areas. While oceans have often been seen as symbolically full but historically empty sites, this essay asks for a revision of our view of oceans as social and geographical sites. It invites the reader to regard ships not predominantly as romantic symbols of unfulfilled desire but as social spaces and sites of historical conflict and change, and it looks at maritime travelers in the era of colonialism as socially and culturally protean figures - personalities in constant transit.