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Intimate Networks and Atlantic Ties in Seventeenth Century America: A Review

Thomas Hardy

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Published in New Netherland Connections: Intimate Networks And Atlantic Ties In Seventeenth Century America (Published By The Omohundro Institute Of Early American And The University Of North Carolina Press)

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New Netherland Connections: Intimate Networks and Atlantic Ties in Seventeenth-Century America (Published by the Omohundro Institute of Early American ... and the University of North Carolina Press)

by Susanah Shaw Romney

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2421 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	336 pages

In her book Intimate Networks and Atlantic Ties in Seventeenth Century America, Carla Gardina Pestana explores the complex and evolving nature of intimate relationships in the early Americas. Drawing on a rich array of sources, including letters, diaries, and legal documents, Pestana argues that intimate relationships were central to the formation of social networks and the development of Atlantic ties.

Pestana begins by examining the different types of intimate relationships that existed in seventeenth-century America. These included marriage, friendship, and slavery. She argues that each of these relationships was shaped by the specific social, economic, and cultural contexts in which they existed.

For example, marriage in seventeenth-century America was often seen as a way to create alliances between families and to secure economic stability. However, marriage was also a complex and often fraught relationship. Pestana explores the ways in which husbands and wives negotiated power and authority within their marriages, and she examines the challenges that couples faced in maintaining their relationships in the face of adversity.

Friendship was another important form of intimate relationship in seventeenth-century America. Pestana argues that friendship was essential for providing emotional support and companionship. Friendships were also important for building social networks and for facilitating access to resources. However, friendships could also be fragile, and they were often tested by the challenges of distance and time.

Slavery was the most extreme form of intimate relationship in seventeenth-century America. Pestana argues that slavery was a fundamentally dehumanizing institution that denied slaves their basic rights and freedoms. However, she also shows that slaves were able to form intimate relationships with each other and with their masters. These relationships could provide slaves with a sense of community and belonging, and they could also be a source of resistance to the institution of slavery.

Pestana's book is a valuable contribution to the growing body of scholarship on the history of intimate relationships in the Americas. Her work provides a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the complex and evolving nature of these relationships, and she demonstrates the central role that they played in the formation of social networks and the development of Atlantic ties.

In Intimate Networks and Atlantic Ties in Seventeenth Century America, Carla Gardina Pestana offers a fascinating and insightful exploration of the complex and evolving nature of intimate relationships in the early Americas. Drawing on a rich array of sources, Pestana argues that intimate relationships were central to the formation of social networks and the development of Atlantic ties. Her book is a valuable contribution to the growing body of scholarship on the history of intimate relationships in the Americas, and it is essential reading for anyone interested in the social and cultural history of the early Americas.

New Netherland Connections: Intimate Networks and Atlantic Ties in Seventeenth-Century America (Published by the Omohundro Institute of Early American ... and the University of North Carolina Press)

by Susanah Shaw Romney

4.8 out of 5