Orientalism in Louis XIV's France (Oxford Historical Monographs)

Before the Enlightenment, and before the imperialism of the later eighteenth century, how did European readers find out about the varied cultures of Asia? Orientalism in Louis XIV's France presents a history of Oriental studies in seventeenth-century France, revealing the prominence within the intellectual culture of the period that was given to studies of Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Chinese texts, as well as writings on Mughal India. The Orientalist writers studied here produced books that would become sources used throughout the eighteenth century. Nicholas Dew places these scholars in their own context as members of the republic of letters in the age of the scientific revolution and the early Enlightenment. "Before the Enlightenment, and before the imperialism of the later eighteenth century, how did European readers find out about the varied cultures of Asia? Orientalism in Louis XIV's France presents a history of Oriental studies in seventeenth-century France, mapping the place within the intellectual culture of the period that was given to studies of Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Chinese texts, as well as writings on Mughal India. The Orientalist writers studied here produced books that would become sources used throughout the eighteenth century. Nicholas Dew places these scholars in their own context as members of the 'republic of letters' in the age of the scientific revolution and the early Enlightenment." --Book Jacket Introduction: Baroque orientalism Barthélemy d'Herbelot and the place of Oriental learning "Toutes les curiosités du monde" : the geographic projects of Melchisédech Thévenot The double eclipse : François Bernier's geography of knowledge The making of d'Herbelot's Bibliothèque orientale Printing Confucius in Paris Epilogue. This title presents a history of Oriental studies in 17th century France, revealing the prominence within the intellectual culture of the period that was given to studies of Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Chinese texts, as well as writings on Mughal India.