From observatory to dominion : geopolitics, colonial knowledge and the origins of the British Protectorate of the Ionian Islands, 1797-1822
The thesis explores official information-gathering and colonial rule during the transition which led to the British Protectorate of the Ionian Islands, between 1797 and 1822. It studies more closely the official anxieties that played a crucial role in the protectorate's early development, placing these in the framework of British official concerns after the Napoleonic Wars related to retrenchment and security associated with a militarist ethos. Overwhelmingly, previous historiography on the islands has focused on the controversies which brought the end of the protectorate. It has also, to some extent, exaggerated the transformative characteristics of imperial rule. Unlike previous studies of British rule in the islands (Anglokratia in Greek) which focus on its end and the ultimate cession of the islands to Greece in 1864, this thesis focuses on the early period of British rule, analysing the origins of the protectorate in a Mediterranean, as well as an imperial, context. British officials were ambivalent about the place of the protectorate in the empire from its very beginning. Yet, despite the recurring political and economic crises going on in the islands during the period under study, the British were adamant
Zarokostas, Evangelos
From observatory to dominion : geopolitics, colonial knowledge and the origins of the British Protectorate of the Ionian Islands, 1797-1822. The thesis explores official information-gathering and colonial rule during the transition which led to the British Protectorate of the Ionian Islands, between 1797 and 1822. It studies more closely the official anxieties that played a crucial role in the protectorate's early development, placing these in the framework of British official concerns after the Napoleonic Wars related to retrenchment and security associated with a militarist ethos. Overwhelmingly, previous historiography on the islands has focused on the controversies which brought the end of the protectorate. It has also, to some extent, exaggerated the transformative characteristics of imperial rule. Unlike previous studies of British rule in the islands (Anglokratia in Greek) which focus on its end and the ultimate cession of the islands to Greece in 1864, this thesis focuses on the early period of British rule, analysing the origins of the protectorate in a Mediterranean, as well as an imperial, context. British officials were ambivalent about the place of the protectorate in the empire from its very beginning. Yet, despite the recurring political and economic crises going on in the islands during the period under study, the British were adamant
dominion geopolitics colonial knowledge origin british protectorate ionian islands explores official information gathering colonial_rule transition lead british protectorate ionian islands study closely official anxiety play_crucial_role protectorate early_development place framework british_official concern napoleonic wars related retrenchment security associate ethos overwhelmingly previous historiography island focus controversy bring_end protectorate also extent exaggerate transformative characteristic imperial rule unlike_previous study british_rule island greek focus end ultimate island greece focus early_period british_rule analyse origin protectorate mediterranean well imperial context british_official ambivalent place protectorate empire beginning yet_despite recur political_economic crisis islands period study british