Companion to the Global Renaissance: Literature and Culture in the Era of Expansion, 1500-1700

A Companion to the Global Renaissance: Literature and Culture in the Era of Expansion, 1500–1700, Second Edition is an innovative collection of original essays that provides a comprehensive view of globalization during the early modern period. It covers a wide range of literary and cultural materials, historical contexts, and geographical regions, offering interdisciplinary perspectives on commerce, material culture, sexual and cross-racial encounters, conquest and enslavement, social, artistic, and religious cross-pollinations, geographical discoveries, and more. The book expands its scope beyond England and English culture, investigating intercultural and intra-cultural exchanges, transactions, and encounters involving England, European powers, Eastern kingdoms, Africa, Islamic empires, and the Americas. It is an essential reading for early modern scholars and students, covering a diverse range of subjects and offering a complex and multifaceted understanding of the global expansions and interactions of the period.

Format: Hardback
Length: 528 pages
Publication date: 20 May 2021
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

A Companion to the Global Renaissance is an innovative and comprehensive collection of original essays that offers a comprehensive portrayal of globalization during the early modern period. Now in its second edition, this companion provides readers with a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the macro and micro perspectives on the commercial and cultural interactions of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Spanning a wide range of literary and cultural materials, historical contexts, and geographical regions, the companion's diverse chapters offer interdisciplinary insights into the implications of early modern concepts of commerce, material and artistic culture, sexual and cross-racial encounters, conquest and enslavement, social, artistic, and religious cross-pollinations, geographical "discoveries," and more.

Building upon the success of its predecessor, this second edition of A Companion to the Global Renaissance significantly expands its scope by venturing beyond England and English culture. Newly commissioned essays explore intercultural and intra-cultural exchanges, transactions, and encounters involving England, European powers such as Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands, Eastern empires such as Japan, and the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires, as well as the Americas. These essays are framed within cross-disciplinary frameworks, providing a complex and multifaceted view of early modern globalization.

One of the key strengths of this companion is its demonstration of the ongoing global "turn" in Early Modern Studies. Through original essays that explore interconnected exchanges, transactions, and encounters, the companion showcases the interconnectedness of different regions and cultures during this period. It highlights the role of England, European powers, Eastern empires, and the Americas in shaping global trade, politics, and cultural exchange.

The expanded coverage of global interactions involving England, European powers, and Eastern empires is another notable feature of this edition. The essays provide detailed insights into the economic, political, and cultural relationships between these regions, shedding light on the complex networks of trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange that characterized the early modern world. The companion also explores the impact of these interactions on local cultures, societies, and societies, highlighting the ways in which they facilitated the spread of ideas, technologies, and practices across different continents.

In addition to its focus on global interactions, A Companion to the Global Renaissance also delves into the micro perspectives of individual experiences and communities. The essays explore the impact of globalization on various groups, such as merchants, sailors, artists, and intellectuals, and how they navigated the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing world order. The companion also examines the role of literature, art, and music in shaping cultural identities and expressing the experiences of individuals and communities in the era of expansion.

Overall, A Companion to the Global Renaissance is an essential resource for scholars and students interested in the study of early modern globalization. Its comprehensive coverage, interdisciplinary approach, and original essays provide a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex and multifaceted processes that shaped the early modern world. Whether one is exploring the global implications of commerce, material culture, or cultural exchange, this companion offers valuable insights and perspectives that will enhance one's understanding of this important period in history.

Weight: 1052g
Dimension: 177 x 251 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781119626268
Edition number: 2nd Edition