Reviews for Sources for the Mutual History of Ghana and the Netherlands

The average rating for Sources for the Mutual History of Ghana and the Netherlands based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-12-15 00:00:00 Robert Schaefer I'm really enjoying this, and this surprises me, because it's primarily an economic history of the region. Moya Pons argues that although the Caribbean is quite diverse in terms of language and culture, and quite fragmented in terms of geography, it is unified economically and socially by the centrality of sugar production, the sugar plantation, and African slavery. The rise and spread of the sugar economy is the central theme of the book, and it makes for fascinating comparisons among the region's various islands. Brazil and North America enter into the picture, as they must. The writing is accessible, and never gets bogged down with figures the way economic history sometimes can.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-01-31 00:00:00 William Hicks Jr. Bought on a whim in the giftshop at El Moro in old San Juan. For a survey book, this was a really good read. Uses the history of the sugar trade as a framing device to tell the story of all the islands. The author takes care to create personalities and show you the context of decisions so it isn't just names and dates flying by. Highly recommended if you are interested in this part of the world.