The Early Modern Period The Early Modern Period of World Literatureof World Literature
The Early Modern The Early Modern PeriodPeriod
The 200 years between 1400 The 200 years between 1400 C.E.C.E. and 1600 and 1600 C.E. C.E. marks a period of transition between marks a period of transition between antiquity and modernism in many areas of antiquity and modernism in many areas of the worldthe world
This growth is marked by three global This growth is marked by three global movementsmovements– Worldwide exploration and conquestWorldwide exploration and conquest– Rational and scientific inquiryRational and scientific inquiry– Growing literary use of vernacular (common Growing literary use of vernacular (common
speech)speech)
Early Modern PeriodEarly Modern Period
Empires and Empires and NationsNations
• Politically, the Politically, the period is marked period is marked by:by:– Expansive imperial Expansive imperial
outreach by several outreach by several major powersmajor powers• SpainSpain• Ming ChinaMing China
– National National consolidation and consolidation and resistance to resistance to outside ruleoutside rule• Germany and Germany and
Scandinavia free from Scandinavia free from Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire
Empires and NationsEmpires and Nations• The “Vernacular Revolution,” The “Vernacular Revolution,”
the establishment of national the establishment of national languages and literatures, was languages and literatures, was an important aspect of political an important aspect of political and cultural self-definition.and cultural self-definition.– Local languages achieved new Local languages achieved new
status in many parts of the worldstatus in many parts of the world• Example: KoreanExample: Korean
Exploration and Exploration and ConquestConquest
Exploration and Exploration and ConquestConquest
Exploration Exploration and Conquest and Conquest • Long-distance Long-distance
exploration began in exploration began in earnest in the 1400searnest in the 1400s– Vasco de Gama: India Vasco de Gama: India
1490s1490s– Columbus: America Columbus: America
14921492• Followed by a flood Followed by a flood
of Dutch, British, and of Dutch, British, and French explorationsFrench explorations
– Major Empires Major Empires extended their reachextended their reach• Songhai Empire, Songhai Empire,
Ming Dynasty, Ming Dynasty, Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire
– Much literature was Much literature was written about these written about these explorationsexplorations• Pantagreul, LusiadsPantagreul, Lusiads
Scientific Conquest and Scientific Conquest and InquiryInquiry
New technologies encouraged New technologies encouraged exploration and conquestexploration and conquest– Modern armies could easily Modern armies could easily
overwhelm rivals unequipped overwhelm rivals unequipped with guns, canons, and warshipswith guns, canons, and warships
Inca-Spanish confrontation in Cajamarca; there is Emperor Atahuallpa
Scientific Conquest and Scientific Conquest and InquiryInquiry
All phenomenon became All phenomenon became subjects for probing, skeptical subjects for probing, skeptical inquiryinquiry– Akbar the Great in Mughal India – Akbar the Great in Mughal India –
investigated other religionsinvestigated other religions– Ming China extended its reach Ming China extended its reach
outwardoutward
The Rise of Print The Rise of Print CultureCulture• The invention of printing was a crucial development The invention of printing was a crucial development
– Enabled texts to be widely circulated and easily Enabled texts to be widely circulated and easily affordableaffordable
– First movable type invented in China by Pi Sheng First movable type invented in China by Pi Sheng around 1000, but impractical due to complex nature around 1000, but impractical due to complex nature of Chinese charactersof Chinese characters
– In Europe, moveable type revolutionized circulation In Europe, moveable type revolutionized circulation of textsof texts• Protestant Reformation: Protestant Reformation:
– (1454) Johann Gutenberg (Germany): The Bible (1454) Johann Gutenberg (Germany): The Bible • Societal Entertainment: Societal Entertainment:
– (1010) The Novel(1010) The Novel• Lady Murasaki’s Tale of Genji Lady Murasaki’s Tale of Genji (Japan)(Japan)• Tale of the Lady Ochikubo Tale of the Lady Ochikubo (Japan)(Japan)• The Story of Burnt Njal The Story of Burnt Njal (Icelend)(Icelend)• The Golden Lotus The Golden Lotus (China)(China)