the Industrial Revolution

colomboTravels in Sri Lanka, the Holy Land of Buddhism

(32) A Brief History of Sri Lanka's Colonial Period - The Historical Background of the Emergence of the Dharmapala

Dharmapala had a decisive impact on the Sri Lankan Civil War.

He did not suddenly appear out of thin air either. He came into existence because of the historical background of Sri Lanka at that time.

In this article, I will briefly discuss the colonial period in Sri Lanka, which is also important for the history of Dharmapala and Sri Lankan Buddhism.
Kumagusu MinakataOther Recommended Books

Takamitsu Shimamoto, "Minakata Kumagusu, Cats and Islam" - Was the Conventional Image of Kumagusu Really Right? A stimulating book that questions the state of research on the great man!

This work, "Minakata Kumagusu, Cats, and Islam," is a departure from conventional reference books on Minakata Kumagusu.

Minakata Kumagusu is known as a "naturalist and folklorist with genius qualities" and is famous for his research on slime molds and plants.

Minakata Kumagusu's superhuman collection of materials and the scope of his research earned him the respect of later researchers. He was praised as a genius and a great man who was ahead of his time.

However, was this person, Minakata Kumagusu, really the great man he seemed to be? In this book, we will carefully examine whether the image of Minakata Kumagusu, filled with the praise of later researchers, was really correct.

It is a stimulating work that can be called a Minakata Kumagusu version of the now popular "Buddha, the Man" by Toshifumi Shimizu!
A Cultural History of the PsychicBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Masakazu Yoshimura, "A Cultural History of the Spiritual: The Spiritual British Era" - A book that also provides insight into the Theosophical Society that influenced Sri Lankan Buddhism!

This book is very stimulating to learn about the interesting background of psychicism, which had an occultic and suspicious image, but was actually born out of the industrial revolution and global rationalism. It was also a very gratifying work to learn about Sri Lanka. It was very informative for me as I wanted to know about the Sri Lankan Buddhist Dharmapala and the Theosophical Society.

Don't underestimate it as merely occult. A very real problem looms before you. This is interesting.
Capitalism and SlaveryBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Eric Williams, Capitalism and Slavery - The accumulation of wealth through the slave trade and plantations brought about the Industrial Revolution!

This book is famous as a milestone work of historiography that overturned the established theories as expounded in Max Weber's "The Ethics of Protestantism and the Spirit of Capitalism".

The main theme of the book is precisely the argument that capital accumulated through the slave trade and slave plantations is what brought about the Industrial Revolution.

This book was also an exciting look at the course of history on a truly gigantic scale.

Once again, the reading made me realize the complexity and enormity of the world.

It is a superb work that destroys our preconceptions. Why not pick up a copy?
The Truth About CoffeeBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Antony Wilde, "The Truth About Coffee" - A book that sounds the alarm about the history of coffee and the unequal trade system that continues today!

What an ease it is to innocently drink deliciously without knowing anything about it.

It is clearly less psychologically burdensome that way.

But what would happen if all people became like that? No, what has happened to the world today with neoliberalism?

It may be harsh, but I think this book is one that you should have the courage to read because you are a coffee lover.
coffee goes around, world history goes aroundBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Ryuichiro Usui, "Coffee Turns and World History Turns" - Western modern society changed by coffee! A recommended book to learn about world history from the perspective of coffee!

As the subtitle of this book, "Coffee Turns and World History Turns," states, "The Black Blood of Modern Civil Society," it is a work that allows us to see how coffee has influenced modern society.

It is also very exciting to learn more about the coffee situation not only in England but also in France, Germany, and other countries. Coffee was also a major factor in the French Revolution and Napoleon.

A great piece of "world history through coffee." This is interesting! As a coffee lover, this was a very exciting book for me.
A Global History of ChocolateBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Naoko Takeda, "The World History of Chocolate" - Recommended commentary book to learn about the transition of chocolate from modern to contemporary times and surprising information about Kit Kat.

Chocolate, with which we are all familiar, is a product of modernity. Especially with the Industrial Revolution in England, chocolate began to take on a very different meaning. This book is a very exciting way to learn about this process.

Also, as mentioned in the title of this article, this book also provides the history of Kit Kat, which we are all familiar with.

This book makes it clear that the rise in popularity of these chocolate confections was precisely the result of modernization.

This book is highly recommended to learn about the origins of chocolate, which is directly related to our daily lives. If you read this book together with "The History of Chocolate" introduced in the previous issue, you will surely deepen your understanding of chocolate even more.
History of ChocolateBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Kawade Bunko "History of Chocolate" - A recommended work to learn about the origins of chocolate and its history dating back to the Mayan civilization!

This book is a large-scale work that looks at the history of chocolate, which is familiar to us all, going back to the Mayan civilization in BC.

I picked up this book because I was researching the Western distribution of tea and coffee in my study of Sri Lankan history. Tea, coffee and chocolate entered the West at about the same time and were popular as beverages. I also wanted to learn about the history of chocolate because I thought that the development of plantations and trade was very significant in terms of European and Asian thought.

That is when I came across this book, "The History of Chocolate". I fell in love with this book at first sight.
Sweetness and PowerBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Sidney W. Mintz, "Sweetness and Power: The Modern History of Sugar's Story" - A classic book that asks how sugar changed the world!

Sugar was not always consumed by people as it is today.

When it first began to be distributed in Europe, it was used as a perfume and medicine, and only a very few people with overwhelming power, such as royalty, could own it.

This is a very stimulating work that considers the origins of the world through sugar, which is so commonplace in our daily lives. There was a tremendous transition for sugar to become commonplace. It is a wonderful work that questions what we take for granted. It is also very understandable that the book was introduced as "a world-famous book that pioneered the story of world history through objects.

Why not pick one up?
Human History of SpicesBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

A. Dolby, "The Human History of Spices" - also recommended for the history of spices in India and Sri Lanka!

The book is unique in that it does not merely look at each spice, but relates it to the flow of world history.

It is exactly the book I was looking for.

It is very exciting to learn not only the basic information about where each spice originated and when it was first cultivated, but also the relationship between the spice and humans.

This work is especially recommended for those interested in history and culture, as well as for those who love spices.

Even I, who am not a fan of spices, was intrigued by this work, so I think that if you like spices, you will enjoy it even more.