Nomadic economics: The logic and logistics of Comanche imperialism in New Mexico
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Montgomery JSA 2019.pdf
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Final Accepted Manuscript
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Montgomery, Lindsay M.Affiliation
Univ Arizona, Sch AnthropolIssue Date
2019-06
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SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTDCitation
Montgomery, L. M. (2019). Nomadic economics: The logic and logistics of Comanche imperialism in New Mexico. Journal of Social Archaeology, 1469605319859667.Journal
Journal of Social ArchaeologyRights
©The Author(s) 2019. Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissionsDOI: 10.1177/1469605319859667journals.sagepub.com/home/jsaCollection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
Over the past 20 years, scholars have expanded upon subsistence-driven models of indigenous labor and exchange by tracing out the dynamic social, economic, and political systems created by Native people. While current research has highlighted indigenous agency, especially in response to Western colonialism, these approaches have largely ignored the cultural and linguistic meanings behind key economic concepts. Through a case study of the Comanche, this article develops a culturally grounded approach to nomadic economics. The Comanche offer a compelling case for indigenous empire building, a case which points to the need to develop a revised understanding of imperialism. Drawing on documentary and archaeological evidence, this article traces the logic and logistics of Comanche imperialism in New Mexico. Specifically, I argue that during the 18th and early 19th centuries, Comanche people created a nomadic empire rooted in decentralized political power, kinship, and inter- and intra-ethnic exchange. This case study provides a glimpse into the priorities and practices of Comanche entrepreneurs and points to the important role of internal social dynamics in structuring indigenous forms of imperialism.ISSN
1469-6053Version
Final accepted manuscriptSponsors
National Science Foundation; Barnard CollegeAdditional Links
https://doi.org/10.1177/1469605319859667ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1177/1469605319859667