Translation and Transfer of Knowledge in Encyclopedic Compilations, 1680-1830

Encyclopedic compilations arose in 17th-century France to meet the demand for information in a more flexible format, leading to competition among nations to establish encyclopedic paper empires. This edited collection evaluates the long-overlooked phenomenon of knowledge creation and transfer in hundreds of translated encyclopedic compilations over the long 18th century, arguing that the true site of knowledge transfer resided in the transnational movement of ideas. The encyclopedia came to represent a nation's cultural capital, symbolizing its might and mapping the global 18th century.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 376 pages
\n Publication date: 20 September 2021
\n Publisher: University of Toronto Press
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From its modern origins in seventeenth-century France, encyclopedic compilations emerged as a revolutionary response to the need for disseminating information in a more flexible and accessible format. This shift marked a departure from the constraints of previous centuries of erudition, allowing for a broader dissemination of knowledge to a wider audience.

Coinciding with the rise of vernacular languages, the demand for information across various sectors intensified, sparking a fierce competition among nations to establish encyclopedic paper empires that symbolized power and potential. The contributors to this edited collection delve into the long-overlooked phenomenon of knowledge creation and transfer that occurred in hundreds of translated encyclopedic compilations throughout the long eighteenth century.

Through a comprehensive analysis of multiple instances of translated compilations, Translation and Transfer of Knowledge in Encyclopedic Compilations, 1680–1830 expands into the vast realm of multilingual, encyclopedic compilations. These compendia serve as tangible evidence of the global enlightenment, showcasing the transnational movement of ideas that shaped the world during this period.

This volume argues that the true site of knowledge transfer resided in the transnational movement of ideas exemplified by these compendia. The encyclopedia, once a mere collection of knowledge, became a powerful tool for nation-building, representing aspiring nations as viable economic and political players on the world stage. The ability to convey knowledge through culture became the hallmark of a nation's cultural capital, symbolizing its might and providing insights into the how, why, and where of the global eighteenth century.

\n Weight: 744g\n
Dimension: 162 x 236 x 33 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781487508906\n \n