The ‘Historical West’ in the Early Modern Period

The Europe we know today is essentially shaped by post-imperialist Europe since 1945, culminating in the founding of the EU. In the 19th century, European states were largely empires with colonies; the so-called ‘nation states’ were often at war with one another. What was Europe like in the Early Modern period (1400–1800)? This article advances the thesis of Europe’s global dimension in the Early Modern period and its anchoring in the geopolitical space of the ‘Historical West’. Based on the reception of Ptolemy’s Geography in the Renaissance, global Europe is presented in broad strokes and through selected episodes. Geography, world maps, books, natural materials, art objects and people serve as examples to demonstrate how, before 1800, the relations between Orient and Occident were fluid and plural, and how East and West engaged in lively intercultural exchange. An attempt is made to capture concepts such as Eurocentrism, Orientalism, barbarism, civilisation, bio- and cultural diversity and criticism of religion in their specific meanings.