The Plural Mediterranean in the Early Modern Period

The Plural Mediterranean in the Early Modern Period

Book Summary

This collective work offers an in-depth and innovative analysis of the Mediterranean during the Early Modern period, taking the intellectual legacy of historian Fernand Braudel as a reference. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the authors examine the complex reality of a sea that, despite being a religious and political frontier, maintained an intense exchange of people, ideas, and goods. The reader will find a rigorous study that unravels the social, cultural, and historical dynamics of this plural space, moving away from simplistic visions to offer a nuanced understanding of its past.

What is it about?

The book delves into the history of the modern Mediterranean, questioning the idea of a space divided exclusively by conflict. Building upon Braudel's influential work on the Mediterranean in the age of Philip II, the authors explore how, despite the tensions, an ecumenical character inherited from Rome persisted. The work analyzes various aspects of this plural reality, from the Jewish and Morisco question to the emergence of Turkish power in the region. It also addresses the status of women in the Ottoman world, the early orientalism of the era, and the particular view of Northern Europe projected from Venice. In short, it is a journey through the multiple facets of a Mediterranean that was a stage for encounters and clashes, of exchanges and conflicts.

Main Topics

• The Braudelian legacy and the history of the Mediterranean as a space of interconnection.
• Religious minorities: the Jewish problem and the Morisco question in the Early Modern period.
• The Ottoman Empire and its influence on the Mediterranean balance.
• Social and cultural history: the status of women in the Ottoman world.
• Early orientalism and cross-perceptions between Southern and Northern Europe.
• The Mediterranean as a frontier and, at the same time, a space for the circulation of people, ideas, and goods.

Who is it recommended for?

This book is aimed at students, researchers, and teachers of Early Modern History, Social and Cultural History, as well as specialized readers interested in the study of the Mediterranean from a critical and updated perspective. It will also be of great value to those seeking to understand the historical roots of the complex intercultural relationships in the Mediterranean area.

What this book contributes

• A renewed and plural vision of the modern Mediterranean, beyond the Christian-Muslim dichotomy.
• A rigorous analysis of key topics such as minorities, Ottoman power, and early orientalism.
• A multidisciplinary approach that enriches the understanding of a fundamental historical period.
• The opportunity to delve into the legacy of Fernand Braudel and its application to new objects of study.

Technical Specifications

• Author: JOSE A. GONZALEZ ALCANTUD, ANDRE STOLL (EDS.)
• Publisher: ANTHROPOS EDITORIAL
• Language: Spanish
• Subject: HISTORY, MEDIEVAL HISTORY, EARLY MODERN HISTORY: C.1450/1500-C. 1700, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY
• Collection: NO COLLECTION
• Binding: Other
• Publication Date: March 2011
• Number of pages: 254
• Weight: 287 g

Editorial Review

This is a highly reliable academic work that offers a multifaceted look at the modern Mediterranean. Its main strength lies in the authors' ability to address complex issues from an updated perspective, overcoming stereotypical visions. It is essential reading for those who wish to understand the richness and contradictions of this historical space, combining the rigor of analysis with the breadth of vision that characterizes the best historiographical tradition.