Between Faith and the Heavens: Instrumental Exchange and Scientific Dialogue in Catholic–Safavid Encounters
Between Faith and the Heavens: Instrumental Exchange and Scientific Dialogue in Catholic–Safavid Encounters
by
Abstract
The study examines how the collision of ideas and traditions in astronomy between Catholic missionaries and Safavid scholars shaped intercultural relations and strengthened mutual exchanges. Early modern period travel and missionary accounts indicate that astronomy held a prominent place within Safavid education and scholarly culture, shaping both intellectual exchange and diplomatic encounters. This study highlights how Catholic missionaries employed scientific knowledge as a form of soft diplomacy. They introduced innovations and played a key role in circulating scientific instruments that served as tools of knowledge exchange and cultural negotiation. Focusing on missionary correspondence and visual artefacts, this article argues that the contributions of Catholic missionaries to the scientific development of the Safavid Empire have been overlooked, as they not only participated in exchanges but also introduced changes in the characteristics of instruments. By bringing undervalued materials to light and revealing cross-cultural Catholic-Safavid exchanges, the article aims to offer new perspectives on the history of science and visual culture.
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non–Commercial No Derivatives License which permits noncommercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of the Publisher must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
