Late Victorian Holocausts

book by Mike Davis

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July 22, 2026

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Mike Davis's book Late Victorian Holocausts argues that economic and political decisions by colonial powers caused famines in India, China, and Brazil between 1870 and 1914, resulting in tens of millions of deaths. Davis, an American historian and activist, was known for his Marxist ideology and his ability to predict future catastrophes. His work often focused on the environment and the impacts of capitalism. The book connects these historical famines to broader patterns of colonial exploitation and environmental factors, suggesting that these events were not simply natural disasters but man-made tragedies exacerbated by imperial policies.1

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Mike Davis
In his 2000 book Late Victorian Holocausts, Davis demonstrated that economic and political decisions made by colonial powers were responsible for the famines that swept India, China, and Brazil between 1870 and 1914, resulting in tens of millions of deaths.
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In his 2000 book Late Victorian Holocausts, Davis demonstrated that economic and political decisions made by colonial powers were responsible for the famines that swept India, China, and Brazil between 1870 and 1914, resulting in tens of millions of deaths.
Read More