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1. Introduction 1.1. Historical formationsHistoriography on South Asia sees the great unified state encompassing the entire subcontinent as the political ideal, but this seldom reflected historical realities. The Maurya (c. 320-73 bce) and Gupta Empires (c. 320-500), the Mughal Empire (1525-1858), and British Raj (1858-1947) are the exceptions proving the rule – though even these never achieved consistent control across the board (see below, 3.2.2.). Resisting notions of this kind, the following presentation distinguishes historical regions that played host to formative processes of political, economic, and cultural identity, community, and society (South Asian societies 1.). It was from historical regions of this kind, specific to South Asia, that empires and states developed (State formation beyond Europe), some of which went on to build large territories far beyond the region concern…

1. IntroductionThe European voyages of discovery undertaken for various reasons between the 15th and 19th centuries are a defining feature of the history of the early modern period. Traditional historiography saw them as a key element of European expansionism and the beginning of the “Europeanization of the world.” The discovery in 1492 of what to Europeans was a New World in the Americas (America, discovery of) has often been (and still is) portrayed as a historical watershed…

1. DefinitionThis term for a special form of colonial authority is well established in the discipline of history (History [intellectual discipline]). It goes back to the British civil servant Frederick Lugard (1858-1945). After his military career in British India and Egypt, he served as high commissioner in northern Nigeria from 1900 to 1906. Here he developed the politics of indirect rule by putting government of the protectorate in the hands of the leaders who had just been subjugated by the British. As long as the chief formally recognized British sovereignty, renounced slave trading (Slavery) and cooperated with the British authorities to “modernize” the country, the colonial power was willing to maintain the African leader in his position of power. The British commissioner retained discretionary power to depose insubordinate or uncooperative chiefs and other officials; the function of paid office-holder was assigned to them on these terms. Lugard formulated his political practice into a theory in 1922 and published it in his widel…