440 Part VI: European Empires in Asia
lower right, a native Australian brings a kangaroo as two privileged white Aus-
tralians look on; at lower left, German and French officers from competing
imperial nations look on the spectacle with envy. Over the top angels carry the
slogans “Freedom,” “Fraternity,” and “Federation”: the British Empire has
united the world in freedom and brotherhood.
The artistic beauty of the map, and the romantic portrayal of empire, cer-
tainly attempt to justify imperial conquest. How lovely it all turned out! The
actual empress of this enormous empire was an elderly woman (though still
much loved Victoria, whose statues are found everywhere throughout the for-
mer empire). In little over half a century, all those dominated and exploited
peoples would be seeking and gaining their independence, and the postcolonial
world we now inhabit would come into existence.
Orientalism as an intellectual project and growing knowledge base began
during the early centuries of colonialism. In the case of Britain, it began with
the generation of Sir William Jones, sometimes then called “Oriental Jones,”
who studied Sanskrit and began the process of trying to understand Indian lan-Map 12.1 This 1886 map romanticizes the British Empire, showing Britannia as a
goddess reposing on a throne-like globe, with romanticized and stereotyped natives
from their colonies paying tribute.