[Project] A Web of Lies?

When mentioning terms such as colonialism and English identity, I tend associate words such as oppression and superiority (at least a superiority complex). Within my project however, I will seek to challenge these preconceptions by focusing on the earlier stages of English colonial history. In particular, I want to focus in on the English factory at Hirado in Japan and compare it to English colonists in North America during the period between 1600 and 1623. With both these cases I seek to explore the malleability of English identity, reflective of power or lack there of, that Englishmen possessed.

I may just like the ring of “A Web of Lies”, but from background reading I think this is perfect description of English and their interactions with foreign peoples at the turn of the 17th century. This is because English identity became second to instincts of survival and the pursuit of economic gain. The Merchants Avizo, in short a self help book for English merchants operating in Spain and Portugal is a perfect example. The work instructs merchants to be “lowly, curteous, and serviceable unto every person”, emphasising the importance of humility and restraint in these catholic nations.

Yet, this approach was not universal, with these networks of Englishmen acting differently depending of the situation that they faced. This is why I have chosen to compare Japan and English North America as they juxtapose each, for although they shared economic motives at their core, the results were entirely different.

I understand that upon selecting English North America I open myself to criticism that the English merchants of Japan were not comparable to English “colonists” of North America. However, this is in many ways not the case. The early English “colonisers” did not envision the policy of settlement which came to define English North America. Instead, as highlighted by Alison Games one of their objectives was the establishment of trading posts which Games describes as being “characterized by the amicable and cooperative relations English traders employed around the world”.

In short I hope to contrast two networks of Englishmen seeking to exploit the wealth of new lands. Revealing how ideas on identity and conduct, associated with imperial hegemony are simply lies, misconceptions from the later colonial period.