Arnoldus Montanus

Arnold Montanus, actually Arnold van den Berghe (* 1625 in Amsterdam, † 1683 in Schoonhoven ) was a Dutch theologian and historian. In addition to an extensive editorial work he has written numerous historical treatises dealing with the peoples and cultures of the New World and the activities of the Dutch overseas. Although he has never left Europe, exerted his books have been translated into many languages ​​from a great influence on the European perception of the area concerned. De Nieuwe en Onbekende Weereld ( The unknown New World) and Gedenkwardige Gesantschappen the East India Maatschappy in't Vereenigde Nederland ( " Denckwürdige Sent managed the East lndian society in the United Low Countries" ) are his best-known writings.

Life

Montanus was born into a family of emigrants from Vlissingen in the southern Netherlands, which had settled in Amsterdam. His father Peter Montanus ( Pieter van den Berghe ) had taught from 1600 to 1602 at the Latin School to Middelburg ancient languages ​​before moving because of the poor pay to Amsterdam and took a position at the School Latijnse aan de Nieuwezijds. He was also very active as a translator and editor. So he gave in 1612 Guiccardinis description of the Netherlands in Dutch out in 1614 translated the description of the trading city of Amsterdam Giovanni Gioviano Pontano ( Pontanus ) from Latin and were 1621 Mercator Cosmographicae Meditationes out. Probably come the additions to the text of the Hondiusschen edition of Mercator 's Atlas from his great spring.

His son Arnold followed the example of his father. After studying theology at Leiden University, he worked from 1653 as a parish priest in Schellingwoude and since 1667 in Schoonhoven. He was also rector of the Latin School. At the same time he published a considerable number of books. He was passionate about travel reports about foreign countries. Arnold Montanus was quite influenced by the Golden Age, a period of economic and cultural blossoming of the Netherlands, which so far brought the country and also the hometown of power unknown prosperity. These successes were based in large part on the activities of the Netherlands as a naval power and overseas trade (see also: Dutch Colonies ).

Work

Montanus wrote works on Church history, theology, the history of the Netherlands and the peoples and cultures of the New World. His broad interests were typical of the intellectual flowering of the Netherlands during the Golden Age. But his passion was the culture.

Montanus bought sailors and employees of the Dutch East India Company ( Vereenigde Dutch East India Company, VOC) information and travelogues, and she published in 1669 in the publishing house of Jacob van Meurs ( 1619-1680, the publisher existed from 1651 to 1680 ) in Dutch and German language under the title Gedenkwardige Gesantschappen the East India Maatschappy in't Vereenigde Nederland aen de Kaisaren van Japan ( " Denckwürdige Sent managed the East India Company in the United Dutchmen to different Keyser of Japan "). The 454 -page lavishly illustrated work describes a number of trips to the conductors ( opperhoofden ) of the Dutch trading post Dejima ( Nagasaki ) to the court of the Shogun in Edo.

1670 the collection was translated into English in 1680 and into French. It was soon regarded as a reference work for Japan and was replaced in 1728 by Engelbert Kaempfer's History of Japan.

The detailed descriptions come from Iberian Mission sources, such as information of the Jesuit Giovanni Pietro Maffei and records of the East India Company. Montanus she added with - sometimes lengthy - historical and cultural digressions and reflections on religious customs, ceremonies and customs, the origin of earthquakes and more. It deals with the discovery of history, geography, ethnology, the Japanese missionary and events at the time of Sengokujidai as well as the East India trade. In addition, the book contains one of the few authentic Japanese early fragments. The work is entertaining and one of the first attempts to classify Japan in the context of world history.

The majority of the illustrations was made by Dutch engravers based on the descriptions of the text. Many of them fell correspondingly from grotesque. Tendencies to Sinicisation are obvious. However, there are also authentic and valuable figures such as the island of Dejima and the castle to Osaka. Remain Moreover, if the accessories are removed from the text, left, on the whole accurate descriptions. However, some designs are quite adventurous to read:

, 2002, Reinier H. Hesselink after that Montanus for this book four unpublished manuscripts Japan by members of the VOC had used. These were apparently sold almost ten years before the publication of the " Gedenkwaerdige Gesantschappen " to Montanus or van Meurs.

1673 appeared Montanus ' work De Nieuwe en Onbekende Weereld ( The New and Unknown World ), the first by the Dutch physician and historian Olfert Dapper (Amsterdam) and later by John Ogilby (Amsterdam ) was laid. This work is a treasure trove of materials to America. It contains, among other things, maps of Virginia, Carolina, New England, America ( with California as an island ), Bermuda, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Paraguay. Among the engravings to find an early view of New York, further views of Mexico, Carolina, Terceira, Puerto Rico (Porto Rico), Santo Domingo, Havana, St. Augustine / Florida, St. Martin, Campeche, Acapulco, Cartagena, Trujillo in Honduras, Callao de Lima, Bay de Todos os Sanctus in Bahia / Brazil, San Salvador, Tamaraca, Olinda de Phernambuco and Mauritsstaad ( Mauritiopolis ).

Montanus " Denckwürdige Sent managed " were, among others, in the library of Engelbert fighter.

Comments

Works

• Gedenkwaerdige Gesantschappen the Oost- Nederland lndische Maetschappy in't Vereenigde aen de Kaisaren wan Japan :: vervatende wonderlyke voor op de vals Togt the Nederlandtsche Gesanten: beschryving van de Dorpen, sterkten, steden, land lish appen, temple, Gods services, Dragten, gebouwen, explode, gewasschen, bergen, a font, vereeuwde en nieuwe Oorlogs - Daaden of Japan DERs [ ... ] Getrokken uit de Geschriften s Reisaentekeninze the zelver Gesanten, Arnoldus Montanus door. t'Amsterdam. By Jacob Meurs [ ... ] 1669th
• To different Keyser of Japan Denckwürdige Sent managed the East India Company in the Dutch /: to find Therein not only the whimsical Begäbnüsse on the Reyse the Dutch Gesanten; but also a description of the Dörffer / forts / cities / Landtschafften / Götzengebeue ​​/ idolatry / Dresses - seek / Heuser / animals / plants / Mountains / Fountains / as well as the old and itzigen military exploits of the Japanese; with a large number of copper pieces / in Japan selves torn / adorned; drawn from the writings and Reyseverzeichnissen gemelter Gesanten / Arnoldus Montanus through. Bey Jacob Meurs booksellers and Kupfferstechern / on the Keysersgracht / not far from the Wester Church / in the city of Meurs / 1670th ( German edition of Gedenkwaerdige Gesantschappen, digitized in the University and State Library Saxony- Anhalt)
• Atlas Japannensis: being remarkable addresses by way of embassy from the East -India Company of the United Provinces to the Emperor of Japan / collected out of Their several writings and journals by Arnoldus Montanus; English'd and adorn'd with above a hundred several sculptures by John Ogilby, London: Printed by Tho. Johnson for the author, MDCLXX ( English edition of the Gedenkwaerdige Gesantschappen )
• De nieuwe en onbekende weereld, of, Beschryving van America en ' t zuid -land: vervaetende d' Oorsprong the Americaenen en zuid - landers, gedenkwaerdige togten derwaerds, gelegendheid the vaste kusten, eilanden, steden, sterkten, Dorpen, temple, mountains, a font, stroomen, Huisen, van de natuur beesten, boom, planned en vreemde gewasschen, Gods service en Zeden, Wonderlijke voor vallen, vereeuwde en nieuwe oorloogen: verciert met af - na beeldsels ' t leven in America gemaekt. T ' Amsterdam: By Jacob Meurs boek - en verkooper plaet - snyder [ ... ] Anno MDCLXXI.
• Atlas Chinensis: being a second part of A relation of remarkable passages in two embassies from the East -India Company of the United Provinces to the vice - roy Singlamong and General Taising Lipovi and to Konchi, Emperor of China and East - Tartary: with a relation of the Netherlanders assisting ting the Tartar against Coxinga and the Chinese fleet, who till then were masters of the sea: and a more exact geographical description than formerly Both of the whole empire of China in general and in Particular of every of the fifteen provinces. London: Printed by Tho. Johnson for the author [ ... ] MDCLXXI
• The raw edge of the New World or description of the world - partly America, and the Sud- country: Indoors from Vhrsprunge the Ameriker and Sudländer / and of the gedenckwürdigen Reysen the Europeans to afterwards; as also of the same festivals countries, islands / cities / strongholds / villages / vornähmsten Gebeuen / Bergen / Fountains / rivers / and Ahrten of the animals / Beume / perennials / and other foreign plants; and by the God and idolatry / customs / languages ​​/ Dresses - seek / whimsical funerals and as well old as new wars / traded extensively. Adorned through and through with many after living in self-designed Ameriken pictures. / By Dr. O. D. [ Olfert Dapper. Johann Christoph Beer ]. At Amsterdam: Bey of Jacob Meurs, on the Keysersgraft, in the town of Meurs, in 1673.
• Ambassades mémorables de la Compagnie des Indes orientales des Provinces Unies, vers les empereurs du Japon. A Amsterdam, Chés Jacob De Meurs, merchand libraire. M.DC.LXXX. ( French edition of Gedenkwaerdige Gesantschappen )