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Unfabling the East

The Enlightenment's Encounter with Asia
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( 123 ratings, 25 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Unfabling the East by Jürgen Osterhammel delves into the shifting perceptions and representations of the East from the early modern period onwards. The book examines how Western narratives have shaped and often mythologised the East over centuries. Osterhammel offers critical insights into the cultural and historical interactions between Europe and Asia, aiming to dismantle preconceived ideas and highlight the complexities of cross-cultural dialogues.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in exploring how Western perspectives shaped the historical narrative of the East and how myths and misconceptions were constructed and deconstructed through time. It's a fascinating read for those curious about the complex interactions of cultures and the development of global history from a fresh viewpoint.

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How Enlightenment Europe rediscovered its identity by measuring itself against the great civilizations of AsiaDuring the long eighteenth century, Europe's travelers, scholars, and intellectuals looked to Asia in a spirit of puzzlement, irony, and openness. In this panoramic book, Jurgen Osterhammel tells the story of the European Enlightenment'

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

How Enlightenment Europe rediscovered its identity by measuring itself against the great civilizations of Asia.

During the long eighteenth century, Europe's travellers, scholars, and intellectuals looked to Asia in a spirit of puzzlement, irony, and openness. In this panoramic book, Jürgen Osterhammel tells the story of the European Enlightenment's nuanced encounter with the great civilizations of the East, from the Ottoman Empire and India to China and Japan.

He shows how major figures such as Leibniz, Voltaire, and Gibbon took a keen interest in Asian culture and challenges the notion that Europe's formative engagement with the non-European world was invariably marred by an imperial gaze and presumptions of Western superiority.

A momentous work by one of Europe's most eminent historians, Unfabling the East brings the sights and sounds of this tumultuous age vividly to life. It takes readers on a thrilling voyage to the farthest shores, bringing back vital insights for our own multicultural age.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Unfabling the East by Jürgen Osterhammel is praised for its brilliant and scholarly approach, expanding debates on historical perspectives and providing a broad context. The book is noted for being wide-ranging and original, offering sensible insights and defending the Enlightenment from accusations of Eurocentrism. It is also recognised for its detailed portrayal of cultural communication and self-criticism during the Enlightenment era.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780691196473

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 November 2019

Country: United States

Imprint: Princeton University Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by Robert Savage

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 696

About the Author

Jrgen Osterhammel is Distinguished Fellow at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS). He is a recipient of the 2017 Toynbee Prize and the 2018 Balzan Prize for Global History. His books include The Transformation of the World: A Global History of the Nineteenth Century (Princeton).

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