Offers an original approach and philologically grounded analysis of Montesquieu's thought

Ties in with debates about European approach to other societies and cultures

Examines the roots of Eurocentric ideas

Addresses the problem of the circulation and uses of information in non-European societies in 18th century European culture

Autorentext

Rolando Minuti is professor of Modern History at the University of Florence. His main research area is the European intellectual history of the XVIIIth century: historiography, orientalism, the work of Montesquieu and other leading members of Enlightenment culture. Several of his main publications are: Oriente barbarico e storiografia settecentesca (Venezia, Marsilio, 1994), Orientalismo e idee di tolleranza nella cultura francese del primo '700 (Firenze, Olschki, 2006), Montesquieu. Spicilège (edité par R. Minuti, et annoté par S. Rotta, Oxford, The Voltaire Foundation, 2002).

Inhalt

1. The Natural Environment, Society and Government.- 2. Japan and the Tyranny of Legislation.- 3. The Image of Russia.- 4. The most singular People on Earth.- 5. India in the Work of Montesquieu.- 6. Montesquieu's America.- 7. After the Esprit des Lois: Montesquieu and Travel Literature.- 8. Montesquieu and the History of Intolerance.- 9. Montesquieu and Islam: an overview.