Early Capitalism in Colonial Missions: Moravian Household Economies in the Global Eighteenth Century (Empire’s Other Histories)

Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Figures
Acknowledgements
Introduction: What did early capitalism look like on the ground?
	Historical context
	Conceptual approach
		Capitalism
		Oeconomie as communal household
	Methodology
		Presentation style: A dialectic of archival narrative and theoretical reflection
		Archival sources
		Terminology
	Chapter outline
Chapter 1: The Moravian Brethren
	Introduction
	Individual
	Community
		Missionary ideals and missionary practice
	History
		Were the Moravians ‘conservative’?
	Conclusion
Part I: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
	Chapter 2: Moravians and money
		So, how do Moravians speak about economic issues?
		Reprimand from Bethlehem
		Bethlehem
			Beginnings of the General Economy in Bethlehem
			Transition towards waged labour
			Introducing a ‘free economy’
			Projects and suggestions for the new organization
		Conclusion
	Chapter 3: Change in leadership and organization: The case of Bethlehem’s General Economy
		Introduction
		Moravian leadership restructured
			Earlier attempts at organization
			The establishment of Central Council (Ratsconferenz) and Inner Council (Enge Conferenz)
		End of the General Economy: First steps
			July 1760: Communicating the impending change to Bethlehem
			November–December 1760: The appointed committee sets to work
		Plans
			January 1761: Results are presented to the Directorial Board
			February 1761: Blueprint for the restructure in place
			Spangenberg’s letter (November 1760) with suggestions arrives from Bethlehem
		Execution
			March–April 1761: Decision sent to the leadership in Bethlehem
		Implications of the restructure: Market economy and mission work
			Market
			Mission
		Conclusion
Part II: New-Herrnhut in St Thomas, the Danish West Indies
	Chapter 4: Time of transition and change in mission: 1760–4 in the Moravian Unity
		Introduction
		The earlier missions: 1730s and 1740s
		Missions in 1760 and 1761: A period of transition
		The Mission Deputation: Establishment and tasks
		First General Synod in Marienborn, 1764
			Session one: Assessing specific missions
			Session two: Particular problems
			Session three: Reconstitution of the Mission Deputation
		Conclusion
	Chapter 5: ‘Plantation disposition’: The ‘outer’ sphere and the accumulation of riches in the Danish West Indies
		Introduction
		Rude awakening in the Danish West Indies
			First years (1732–8)
			Purchase of a plantation
		Challenges to the ideal household
			Slaves and slave-owners in the mission
			‘Inner’ and ‘outer’
			Expansion of the sugar industry
		Visitations to St Thomas
			Visitation of 1753: Early distinction between inner and outer duties
			Visitation of 1755: Addressing the question of Moravian-owned slaves
			Visitation of 1759: Clearer distinction between two types of Oeconomie
			Visitation of 1783–4: All eyes on the ‘outer’ Oeconomie
			Further divisions and distinctions
			Sale of the Bethel plantation
		Household after 1760
		Conclusion
Part III: New-Herrnhut in Greenland
	Chapter 6: Greenland and colonial authorities
		Introduction
		Relation to colonial authorities
			Danish colonial monopoly
			Nitschmann’s letter to the Danish king, Christian VI
			The problem of passage
			The question of settlement
			Further restrictions
		Sustaining Moravian activities
	Chapter 7: Developing the ‘inner sphere’
		Community organization: Developing the ‘inner’ sphere
			Choirs
			Households
			Early organization
			Implications and transformations in a colonial context
			Days of celebration
		Conclusion: The ‘inner’ sphere of the Greenland mission
Conclusion: Moravians and capitalism
	Introduction
	Religion and capitalism
	Bürgergeist
	Moravian particularities
Archival references
Bibliography
Index