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ARTS 1270: Essay Introduction and Bibliography

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The Amboyna ‘Massacre’ (1623) and Global Histories of Empire

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What can the Amboyna ‘massacre’ (1623) and its aftermath teach us about the nature of global empire in the 17th Century?

INTRO The dynamics of the global empire manifested in both the occurrence and aftermath of the Amboyna Massacre in 1623, is reflective of the broader historical and contextual forces influencing state actions and by extension, those of the colonial enterprise. From 1600-1800, numerous megacorporation’s were established for the purpose of trade, ultimately operating as an “extra limb” of imperial governments1. The East India Company (EIC) as a representative of British interests, sort to compete with the highly profitable monopoly on the Spice trade The Dutch East India Company (VOC) had established within the Indies, and more specifically the Ambon Island region. In pursuit of tightening such exploitative grips, political and economic rivalries intensified, sparking murmurs and development of conspiracy type schemes against the VOC, culminating in the torture of many foreign merchants and the subsequent execution of several English traders and Japanese mercenaries by the VOC. 2

The fruition and nature of the resulting “massacre” speak to the contextually aggressive pursuit by European private companies in the developing age of trade and globalisation, for highly profitable markets such as the spice trade.3 The prioritisation of financial gain it appears, outweighed strict adherence to diplomatic agreements, treaties and principle, reiterating geographic and cultural disparity in the interpretation of international and local law, respective of jurisdiction. Such polarised understandings defined subsequent reporting and thus the way the information regarding the encounter was distributed and understood on respective Homefront’s, including the legality or illegality of obtaining confessions through torturous means. 4 This speaks to the tension between public and private interests, namely the VOC and EIC capitalising on the printing press to

1 Chancey K, “The Amboyna Massacre in English Politics, 1624–1632.” Albion 30, no. 4 (1998): 589. 2 Bassett D. K, "The “Amboyna Massacre” Of 1623." Journal of Southeast Asian History 1 no. 2 (1960): 1-3. 3 Chancey, "The “Amboyna Massacre” Of 1623", 594. 4 Clulow A, “Unjust, Cruel and Barbarous Proceedings: Japanese Mercenaries and the Amboyna Incident of 1623.” Itinerario 31, no. 1 (2007): 22-24.

mobilise public sentiment synonymous with their relative interests, to pressure for government intervention.5 Importantly, the Amboyna massacre manifests the role of the printing press in carefully developing the appropriate narrative. It important to note contextually, given the time taken to transfer information around the globe, detail has the ability to be construed. The ensuing pamphlet war was imperative to understanding the encounter as a “massacre”, explicating the importance of manipulating public perception to pressure for and endorse any government response taken. 6 Further, this aided in explaining and ensuring public understanding of what would be conflictual and strained Anglo-Dutch relations that would arguably inform three wars over the 17 th century.7 Such incidence and the nature of reporting additionally influenced culture and literature, for example, John Dryden’s play “Amboyna”, which would further construct the public perception of the Amboyna controversy.8

WORDS FOR INTRO: 399

5 Smith E, “Reporting and Interpreting Legal Violence in Asia: The East India Company's Printed Accounts of Torture, 1603–24.” The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 46 no. 4 (2018): 617. 6 Smith, “Reporting and Interpreting Legal Violence in Asia: Printed Accounts of Torture”, 609. 7 Prestwich M, "Diplomacy and Trade in The Protectorate." The Journal of Modern History 22 no. 2 (1950): 110-112. 8 Chancey, "The “Amboyna Massacre” Of 1623", 587.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bassett, D. K. "The “Amboyna Massacre” Of 1623." Journal of Southeast Asian History 1 no. 2 (1960): 1-19. doi:10.1017/s0217781100000107.

Chancey, K. “The Amboyna Massacre in English Politics, 1624–1632.” Albion 30, no. 4 (1998): 583-598.

Clulow, A. “Unjust, Cruel and Barbarous Proceedings: Japanese Mercenaries and the Amboyna Incident of 1623.” Itinerario 31, no. 1 (2007): 15-34. Clulow, A. “Warring Pamphlets, Amboyna.” Amboyna.org. Last modified 2016. https://amboyna.org/topic/warringpamphlets [Accessed 25 June 2020].

Encyclopedia Britannica. "Amboina Massacre | Execution, Ambon, Indonesia [1623]." Encyclopedia Britannica. Last modified 2016. https://www.britannica.com/event/Amboina-Massacre [accessed 24 June 2020].

Games, A. “Violence on the Fringes: The Virginia (1622) and Amboyna (1623) Massacres.” History 99, no. 336 (2014): 505-529.

Mishra, R. A Business of State. Commerce, Politics, and the Birth of The East India Company. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2018.

Prestwich, M. "Diplomacy and Trade in The Protectorate." The Journal of Modern History 22 no. 2 (1950): 103-121. doi:10.1086/237329.

Smith, E. “Reporting and Interpreting Legal Violence in Asia: The East India Company's Printed Accounts of Torture, 1603–24.” The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 46 no. 4 (2018): 603-626.

Wilson, B. Ledger and Sword, Or The Honourable Company Of Merchants Of England Trading To The East Indies ... (1599-1874). Bombay: Long Mans Green and Co, 1903....