The transformative power of nineteenth and early twentieth century gold rushes has long been accepted by historians. For successive generations of scholars, the desire to better understand the gold rush phenomenon - its drivers and its effects - has provided a rich field for historical exploration.

If historians have invested considerable effort in reconstructing gold history, however, the majority of studies have remained explicitly national in focus. As a result, global and transnational perspectives have received limited attention.

This conference sets out to address that omission. Hosted by the RAI in collaboration with the Oxford Centre for Global History, it seeks to bring to the fore the global, transnational and imperial dimensions of gold rushes.

From the end of 1840s down to 1914 gold rushes played a key role in shaping the course of global history. They connected regions, nations and empires via complex communications, information and migration networks; financial and trading relationships; and systems of extraction, coercion and imperial expansion. The drive to exploit new discoveries fostered transnational and trans-regional flows of capital, labour, technology, culture and politics. In the gold fields themselves rushes could initiate profound and complex processes of political, social and economic change. Gold might bring with it a new sense of cosmopolitanism, freedom and economic opportunity. Alternatively it might incite political, social and racial tensions, reinforce systems of coercion, and prompt the imposition of new ones. On the ground lived experiences were vast and varied, but bound together as part of gold rush imperialism.

Focusing primarily on the history of gold discoveries and their subsequent effects across Africa, Australasia, and North America c.1848-1914, this conference will draw together scholars engaged in diverse fields to consider these themes.

Convenors: Stephen Tuffnell, Benjamin Mountford.
Keynote speakers: James Belich (Balliol), Mae Ngai (Columbia)
Panels: Elliott West (Arkansas), David Goodman (Melbourne), Benjamin Mountford (Corpus Christi), Jan-Georg Deutsch (St Cross), Cassandra Mark-Thiesen (Basel), Ian Phimister (Free State), Stephen Tuffnell (Corpus Christi), Keir Reeves (Federation), Andrew Isenberg (Temple). Closing remarks: John Darwin (Nuffield).

To register go to: www.rai.ox.ac.uk/goldrush<

For enquiries contact: global@history.ox.ac.uk