Abstract
The present chapter explores methodological and conceptual contributions by historical anthropology for consideration in Indian Ocean studies. It sets out to feature, first, three main methodological aspects. In addition, second, the analysis also suggests three groups of theoretical concepts for precolonial times: The term “cosmopolitans” integrates key historical agents in long-distance maritime activities, such as captains and other leading ship crew members, interpreters, as well as long-distance traders and merchants with corresponding trans- and intercultural expertise and interests. The term “local cultural brokers” includes experienced pilots as well as their middlemen and apprentices, whose specializations combine their frequent intercultural experience with maritime visitors from distant regions, and the local and regional knowledge they can provide for them. The term “small island constellations” finally delineates small islands structural positioning in historical and regional contexts. This is further differentiated into five loose and intersecting forms, namely zero, isolated, binary, cluster, and buffer constellations.
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Gingrich, A. (2018). Small Island Hubs and Connectivity in the Indian Ocean World: Some Concepts and Hypotheses from Historical Anthropology. In: Schnepel, B., Alpers, E.A. (eds) Connectivity in Motion. Palgrave Series in Indian Ocean World Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59725-6_3
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