Marco Polo After Abu-Lughod: Before European Hegemony
Abstract
Published in 1989, Janet Abu-Lughod’s Before European Hegemony (BEH) crafted its famed eight regional subsystems from the primary and secondary materials then available. In the intervening years, historians have lauded both its accomplishment and inspiration and noted — sometimes critically — its omission of certain geographical regions. Beginning with a selection of assessments of BEH, this article turns to recent scholarship that fills in some of the gaps in Abu-Lughod’s map, especially in subsystem III, trans-Asia. In concludes with close readings of Abu-Lughod’s mentions of Marco Polo, offering suggestions and corrections of some of her more critical comments.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Medieval History and Crusades
Historical Geopolitical and Social Dynamics
Historical and Archaeological Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Exemplaria
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 6–22
- Publication date
- 2 January 2026
- Language
- EN