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Agency and Archaeology of the French Maritime Empire
Edited by Marijo Gauthier-Bérubé and Annaliese Dempsey
190 pages, 35 ills., bibliog., index
ISBN 978-1-80539-229-3 $135.00/£99.00 / Hb / Not Yet Published (December 2023)
eISBN 978-1-80539-230-9 eBook Not Yet Published
Description
The French maritime empire enabled the continued colonization of territories all over the world from the 17th to the 19th centuries and was built upon the backs of those in lower socioeconomic classes. These classes were heavily impacted by social, political and economic structures. Detailed archaeological case studies using an agency perspective indicate that these lower socioeconomic classes were extremely diverse and dynamic groups that constantly negotiated their identities. These stories are not about the kings, military leaders, and politicians, but rather an exploration of the perspective of those who provided the fuel, both willingly and unwillingly, for the French maritime empire.
Marijo Gauthier-Bérubé is a maritime archaeology scholar who works with the Institut de Recherche en Histoire Maritime et Archéologie Subaquatique and the Fort Saint-Jean Museum in Québec, Canada. Her research specialized in French shipbuilding practices and ship architecture in relation with shipwrights communities of practices and identities. She is conducting research in Richelieu River and the Saint-Lawrence River.
Annaliese Dempsey focuses her archaeological research on the diverse agency and experiences of traditionally-homogenized sociocultural groups. In the maritime sphere, her work has involved the analysis of sailing characteristics of Age of Sail vessels and the accompanying distribution of knowledge among sailors, utilizing technical reconstructions of vessels to analyze the lived experiences of those on board, and the integration of maritime archaeology and public outreach.