Dominion and Civility: English Imperialism, Native America, and the First American Frontiers, 1585–1685
Imperialism Frontiers: Dominion and Civility examines English–Native American relations in the Chesapeake and New England during the first century of contact. Michael Leroy Oberg frames the frontier as a contested zone and explores the tensions among colonial profit, security, and efforts to “civilize” Native peoples.
At a glance
- Focuses on Anglo-Indian relations in the early Chesapeake and New England.
- Places local colonial encounters in a wider transatlantic context, including comparison with French, Dutch, and Spanish colonization.
- Examines English aims involving sponsor profit, territorial security, and attempted cultural assimilation, and why these aims could not all be achieved.
Reference price: $30.95
Price checked: Nov 14, 2026
View offerAhead of Black FridayExplore the selectionOften bought together
Pros and cons
Pros
- Brings colonial policy and Native-settler relations together rather than treating the frontier as controlled by one side.
- Connects regional history to broader European competition and the English Atlantic world.
Technical specifications
9 specifications| Publisher | Cornell University Press |
|---|---|
| Publication date | December 1, 2003 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 256 pages |
| Reading age | 18 years and up |
| ISBN-10 | 0801488834 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0801488832 |
| Weight listed | 13.6 ounces |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 6.12 x 0.62 x 9.25 inches |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers studying early English colonization, Native American history, or colonial New England and the Chesapeake.
- Readers interested in transatlantic approaches to the first century of English-Native contact.
Less suited to
- Readers seeking a broad survey of all periods of U.S. history or a contemporary account of Native communities.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
0% 0% - 4 stars
100% 100% - 3 stars
0% 0% - 2 stars
0% 0% - 1 star
0% 0%
The listing shows a single four-star rating. That very limited aggregate provides little basis for judging the book’s reception or identifying specific strengths and drawbacks. The listed subject matter may interest readers of early colonial history, but the rating alone does not establish how readers responded to its argument or style.
Frequently asked questions
What period does Dominion and Civility cover?
The title gives a span of 1585–1685, and the description focuses on the first century of English-Native contact.
Which regions are discussed?
The book focuses on the Chesapeake Bay area and New England, with broader transatlantic context.
What themes does the book examine?
It considers English colonial aims around profit, security, and attempted “civilizing” policies, alongside the limits of achieving those goals.
Alternative options
Prairie Imperialists: The Indian Country Origins of American Empire (America in the Nineteenth Century)
$62.90
Subjects unto the Same King: Indians, English, and the Contest for Authority in Colonial New England (Early American Studies)
$26.50
The Beginners of a Nation: The Original Classic
$19.99
Colonial America: A Captivating Guide to the Colonial History of the United States and How Immigrants of Countries Such as England, Spain, France, and ... (European Exploration and Settlement)
$19.57
The Settlers' Empire: Colonialism and State Formation in America's Old Northwest (Early American Studies)
$40.00
Envisioning an English Empire: Jamestown and the Making of the North Atlantic World (Early American Studies)
$34.95
The Virginia Venture: American Colonization and English Society, 1580-1660 (The Early Modern Americas)
$48.60
Contested Continent: The Struggle for North America, c. 1000-1680 (Oxford History of the United States)
$26.78
Entangled Alliances: Racialized Freedom and Atlantic Diplomacy During the American Revolution (The United States in the World)
$24.57
Africa and Africans in the Making of the Atlantic World, 1400-1800 (Studies in Comparative World History)
$22.27
Republic and Empire: Crisis, Revolution, and America’s Early Independence
$17.60
American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750-1804
$11.82
