Enterprising Empires

'Matthew P. Romaniello has uncovered a fascinating cast of characters through whom he reinterprets the history of Anglo-Russian relations in the eighteenth century, revealing both Britain and Russia in unexpected ways. This book is essential reading for British, imperial, and Atlantic historians interested in a fresh perspective on the entangled empires of the eighteenth-century world.' Alison Games, Georgetown University, Washington DC 'Enterprising Empires is an outstanding addition to the literature on Russia as a Eurasian empire. By reconstructing the interactions of the Russian and British governments, and British trading companies with the dynamics of Russia's far-flung peripheries, Romaniello shows how empire worked in actual practice in the early modern era.' Alexander M. Martin, University of Notre Dame, Indiana 'Matthew P. Romaniello's impressive and original study throws novel and persuasive light on the Anglo-Russian trading relationship during the long eighteenth century. Firmly rejecting the trope of Russia's 'economic backwardness', he instead reveals the vitality of this commerce and its key Eurasian dimension, with important implications for current debates in global history. Warmly recommended.' Hamish Scott, Jesus College, Oxford 'Romaniello's Enterprising Empires examines early modern trade between the British and Russian empires through the lens of two historiographical propositions. The first proposition is that economic history must go beyond the analysis of economic structures to focus on the personal stories of the merchants and government officials engaged in international trade. ... The second, narrower proposition challenges the presumption that Russia's resistance to economic and political modernization caused its economic decline. Romaniello claims that, in fact, in terms of trade policy Russia and Britain shared a common mercantilist orientation throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, and for much of the period Russia enjoyed a positive balance of trade with the British empire. The author argues that Western European dynamism, not Russian backwardness, created the two countries' economic divergence during the 19th century. ... Highly recommended.' S. P. Harshner, Choice