Religious Conversion and Imperial Rule

Over centuries and across continents, religious communities functioned as a link and driving force in shaping individual self-positioning within society. While studies on the phenomenon of religious conversion have grown considerably in the historical-anthropological literature, the relationship between conversion and imperial rule has been limited to a few geographical areas. In contrast, the present volume proposes a global and comparative approach. Although most of the included studies focus on the spread of Christianity and the responses of communities of different faiths, the further aim is to supplement a debate that goes beyond confessions or imperial configurations. By addressing diverse historical cases, firstly, the multidirectional character of religious conversion practices is shown. Second, they explore the varying degrees of change in conversion, shaped by the possibilities and limits of local structures. Finally, the volume examines notions of subjectivity within convert communities, which shaped their articulated responses to imperial strategies. Overall, these approaches illuminate the interplay between power, agency and social transformation.