historical background

The Early Modern Mediterranean experienced significant movements that reshaped the European cultural and economic landscape. The rise of merchant traffic, driven by new trade networks, intensified interactions among diverse communities. Notable diasporas, such as the Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492 and the Moriscos after 1609, played crucial roles in transmitting knowledge and cultural practices across borders. This era also saw the proliferation of piracy, with privateers and corsairs emerging amidst growing rivalries among European powers, further facilitating cultural exchanges. These contacts and migrations enabled the circulation of books, translations, and innovative ideas, enriching the Mediterranean’s intellectual landscape. They contributed to the formation of modern European philosophy and political thought by fostering cross-cultural dialogues that transcended traditional religious and national boundaries.