为帝国着色:18世纪英属印度胭脂虫培育始末

Coloring the Empire:The Cochineal Breeding of British India in the Eighteenth Century

胭脂虫是一种历史悠久的珍贵染料。西班牙征服墨西哥后,将原产于南美洲的墨西哥胭脂虫运往欧洲大陆,获利颇丰。然而,西班牙对胭脂虫的垄断贸易不仅触动了英帝国的经济利益,还伤害了不列颠的民族自尊。在社会需求、经济利益和帝国热情的推动下,东印度公司和博物学家决意通过物种移植的方法在英属印度培育胭脂虫。由于帝国知识的局限性及欧洲形势的变化,英帝国的胭脂虫培育事业以失败告终。

Cochineal is a valuable dyestuff with a long history.After the Spanish conquest of Mexico,the cochineal,which originated in South America,was shipped to Europe,and became extremely profitable.However,Spain’s monopoly on cochineal trade not only touched the economic interests of the British Empire,but also hurt Britain’s national pride.Driven by social needs,economic interests and imperial passions,the naturalist and the East India Company were determined to breed cochineal in British India.However,due to the limitations of imperial knowledge and the revolution in Europe,the cochineal breeding business in British India ended in failure.