The Travel Account of Ambrosio Bembo: A Venetian in Early Modern India Open Access

Stephens, Marina (Spring 2019)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/nv935405s?locale=en
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Abstract

The Travels and Journal of Ambrosio Bembo is the account of a Venetian noble who, beginning at only 19 years of age, went on a four-year journey through the Middle East and South Asia. He ventured through the three great Muslim empires – Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal – and stayed in European territories of India. Using the framework of microhistory and theories on travel literature, I analyze this account to better understand the early modern period, focusing particularly on Bembo’s detailed observations on the religious and ethnic groups who were interacting in India during this time. Bembo’s perspective shows openness to understanding the “other” when he encounters different groups in India. Furthermore, this account provides insight on the position of Europeans in India during the era before colonialism.

Table of Contents

Introduction...................................................................................................................... 1

Chapter One: Historical Context of Bembo’s Travels in the “Early Modern” Period..... 16

Chapter Two: Travel Writing – Theories of Interpretation and General Trends............ 32

Chapter Three: A Close Reading of Bembo’s Time in India............................................ 47

Conclusion....................................................................................................................... 68

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