Geographies of Seapower: Forging Empire in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Geographies of Seapoweroffers a radical new approach to understanding power at sea. Drawing on previously unseen archival sources, the book reveals how British imperial seapower reshaped the geographies of the Bay of Bengal between 1842 and 1872. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands stood at the crossroads of Victorian imperial ambition and expanding trade networks, but colonial officials saw the Islands as a place of savagery and cannibalism. The East India Company, the Royal Navy, and the Indian Navy were all tasked with transforming the Islands into a British place, both politically and culturally. Through exploration, hydrography, gunboat diplomacy, and the performance of naval force, new geographies were forged and centuries-old patterns of behaviour at sea changed. At once a history of Empire's expansion and a study of how power travels from the sea and to the shore, this is an essential contribution to debates on seapower, geography, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Reviews: In a swashbuckling intellectual style, this book propels the reader across the Bay of Bengal as the Empire expanded. The British harboured economic, trading, geopolitical, and even civilisational ambitions that far exceeded traditional measures of “seapower," which this impeccably researched book explains. Klaus Dodds, Professor of Geopolitics at Royal Holloway, University of London and the author of Border Wars (Penguin 2022). When it comes to seapower, historians get all the attention. It is essential to look beyond the tales of derring-do, the ships, and famous admirals. This book does just that: it takes an interdisciplinary approach encompassing physical and human geography and shows how climate, oceanography, resources, and maritime communities shape seapower. And there is history, too. Highly recommended. Kevin Rowlands, Visiting Professor of War Studies at King’s College London, and author of Naval Diplomacy in the 21st Century (Routledge, 2019). This eloquent and incisive study reimagines British imperial sea power not in the clash of fleets, but in the relatively quieter work of signalling, chart-making, and spatial control. Centred on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between 1842 and 1872, it blends naval history, imperial politics, and human geography into a strikingly original narrative. With lyrical insight and archival depth, the book reveals how Empire sailed not only on waves and warships, but also on knowledge, ceremony, and coastal design. Ronald Po, Associate Professor of International History at London School of Economics, and author of Shaping the Blue Dragon (Liverpool University Press 2024). Formats: This book is also available in multiple formats, tailored towards how you want to read and study. - E-Book: adapted for E-Readers, this version is ideal for reading on your commute or holiday. - Softcover: With cream pages and black-and-white images, the softback version is tailored towards ease of reading and those who prefer a physical copy for reference and to make notes in. - Hardcover: This premium print has white pages and colour images. It is targeted at professional users, including librarians, practitioners, academics, and research organisations. An open-access ePDF version is also freely available under the Creative Commons License CC-BY-NC on the Republish website. This is part of our pledge at Republish Academic Press to make research freely accessible while also allowing you to choose a format tailored to your reading style.