SAFVEN · West meets East in Venice: Cross-cultural interactions and reciprocal influences between the Safavids and Venetians

West meets East in Venice: Cross-cultural interactions and reciprocal influences between theSafavids and Venetians

In the last two decades, in the wake of the renewed interest in early modern diplomacy and shifting toward interdisciplinary approaches, the interactions between Europe and the Islamic Middle East have received considerable attention. Scholars are increasingly emphasizing interconnected and shared history of Europe and the Middle East . The nature of these connections can be traced through the comprehensive examination of early modern diplomatic and cross-cultural encounters between the Islamic Middle East (Ottomans, Safavids) and Europe (Venetians) which cannot be grasped appropriately from a shallow historical or a monocultural perspective. The aim of the research project is to examine the interactions and reciprocal influences between the Safavids and Venetians in the 16th -17th centuries. The research will be the first systematic and interdisciplinary study of Venetian-Safavid gift exchanges. For the first time, diplomatic ceremonies and diplomatic missions will be viewed through the prism of gift-exchange and material culture. Particularly, the research will provide insight into understanding of the following largely unexplored aspects of gift exchanges between these powers: (1) Political and cultural meanings of gift exchanges; (2) Place and importance of precious objects in gift exchanges; (3) Superiority, inferiority and principle of reciprocity in gift exchange; (4) Connections between things and identities (5) Symbolic and materialistic values of gifts (6) Selection and management of gifts; (7) Ceremonial process of gift-giving; (8) Gift-giving habits of individual Safavid and Venetian rulers; (9) Economic character of gift-exchanges. The research will provide a comprehensive view of the material culture of the Safavid-Venetian encounters. We will consider objects not only as mediums of symbolic communication in diplomatic relationships, but also symbolic agents themselves. This will allow us to understand the role of material culture in political and cultural self-representation, and the ways material goods shaped political exchanges. The study of material culture will not only contribute to our understanding of Venetian perception of Safavid material culture, but also Safavid and Venetian societies, human behavior, attitudes towards artifacts and objects in the 16th and 17th centuries. Exploring the nature of the Safavid diplomacy and Safavid attitude towards early modern European from comparative perspective will help us to better to understand the differences and similarities of Safavid diplomatic methods from those of Venetians and Ottomans. Through studying ‘transcultural’ intermediaries (ambassadors, interpreters) in mediating political, diplomatic and cultural relations between the Safavid Empire and Venice we will provide new insights into understanding on how they managed to deal with and connect these two different cultures. Using 'new diplomatic history' approach which takes up the methods of social and cultural history will shed light on the daily encounters, housing, occupation and the personality of the ambassadors. Reconstructing the lives and daily experiences of diplomats will help us to better comprehend social aspects of diplomacy and practice of diplomacy in different cultural contexts in that period. The research can also help us to understand whether and to what extend the legacies of symbols and the symbolic value of objects in early modern encounters continue to be present in current European and Middle East diplomatic practices and negotiating styles.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union