Introduction

This chapter introduced the approach of the book and its main themes. The book is a work of business history, economic history and historical political-economy. The chief focus is on the economic power structures and processes of British imperialism as they were exerted over Sudan both before the period of formal colonization. The periodology used in the book is explained. The chapter then identifies the three key historiographical debates to which the book contributes. These are, first, in relation to the development of a cash-crop economy as a means of supporting the colonial state, which had a long-term impact on the trajectory of the economy. Second, it explores the issue of ‘business imperialism’ (i.e., the ways in which business was a vector of imperialism). And third, the book focuses on the ‘Gentlemanly Capitalist’ imperialism, a historical theory of British imperialism that links the development and maintenance of the British empire in the periphery to the rise of a ‘Gentlemanly Order’ in the metropole (i.e., Britain). The main argument of the book is identified. The chapter then outlines the structure of the book and summarizes the chapters that follow.