| Distant Lands and Diverse Cultures: The French Experience in Asia, 1600-1700 Contributor(s): Ames, Glenn (Editor), Love, Ronald (Editor) |
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ISBN: 0313308640 ISBN-13: 9780313308642 Publisher: Praeger OUR PRICE: $64.35 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: July 2003 Annotation: Utilizing contemporary accounts of India, China, Siam and the Levant, this study provides rich detail about these exotic lands and explores the priorities that shaped and motivated these bold envoys and chroniclers. Ames and Love offer a fascinating look at the symbiotic nature of cross-cultural interaction between France and the major trading regions of the Indian Ocean basin during the 17th century. During this period of intense French interest in the rich trade and cultures of the region, Louis XIV and his minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert in particular were concerned with encouraging French travelers, both clerical and lay, to explore and document these lands. Among the accounts included here are those of Francois Bernier, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, and Francois Pyrard. Because these accounts reflect as much about the structures and priorities of France as they do about the cultures they describe, Ames and Love hope their analysis bridges the gap between studies on early modern France and those on the major Asiatic countries of the same period. Their findings challenge the current thinking in the study of early modern France by demonstrating that overseas expansion to Asia was of considerable importance and interest to all segments of French society. Specialists in traditional "internal" French history will find much in this study of European expansion to complement and supplement their research. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Asia - General - History | Europe - France - Social Science | Minority Studies |
| Dewey: 303.482 |
| LCCN: 2001057728 |
| Series: Contributions in Comparative Colonial Studies |
| Physical Information: 1.07" H x 6.42" W x 9.3" (1.25 lbs) 288 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - 17th Century - Cultural Region - Asian - Cultural Region - French |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Utilizing contemporary accounts of India, China, Siam and the Levant, this study provides rich detail about these exotic lands and explores the priorities that shaped and motivated these bold envoys and chroniclers. Ames and Love offer a fascinating look at the symbiotic nature of cross-cultural interaction between France and the major trading regions of the Indian Ocean basin during the 17th century. During this period of intense French interest in the rich trade and cultures of the region, Louis XIV and his minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert in particular were concerned with encouraging French travelers, both clerical and lay, to explore and document these lands. Among the accounts included here are those of Fran ois Bernier, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, and Fran ois Pyrard. Because these accounts reflect as much about the structures and priorities of France as they do about the cultures they describe, Ames and Love hope their analysis bridges the gap between studies on early modern France and those on the major Asiatic countries of the same period. Their findings challenge the current thinking in the study of early modern France by demonstrating that overseas expansion to Asia was of considerable importance and interest to all segments of French society. Specialists in traditional internal French history will find much in this study of European expansion to complement and supplement their research. |