Much of what we know about the Early Modern era comes from the writings of that time. With the proliferation of the printing press and a somewhat more literate population, much more literature of this period is preserved (as opposed to earlier times). Whether from a novel, play, travel journal or scientific paper, these writings add greatly to our knowledge of our history.
a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as 'the father of realism' and is one of the founders of Modernism in theatre. His major works include Brand, Peer Gynt, An Enemy of the People, Emperor and Galilean, A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler, Ghosts, The Wild Duck, Rosmersholm, and The Master Builder. He is th...
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a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as 'the father of realism' and is one of the founders of Modernism in theatre. His major works include Brand, Peer Gynt, An Enemy of the People, Emperor and Galilean, A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler, Ghosts, The Wild Duck, Rosmersholm, and The Master Builder. He is the most frequently performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare.
a Spanish priest and theologian, who founded the religious order called the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and became its first Superior General. The Jesuit order served the Pope as missionaries, and they were bound by a vow of absolute obedience to the Pope. They therefore emerged as an important political force during the time of the Counter-Reformation.
the Patriarch of Antioch, and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 1512 until his death in 1517. Whilst residing at the Monastery of Mor Hanayo, the monastery was attacked and looted by Kurds in 1516, forcing Jacob to sell church property to help rebuild the monastery. Jacob is known to have been an efficient writer and poet, whose works include a histor...
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the Patriarch of Antioch, and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 1512 until his death in 1517. Whilst residing at the Monastery of Mor Hanayo, the monastery was attacked and looted by Kurds in 1516, forcing Jacob to sell church property to help rebuild the monastery. Jacob is known to have been an efficient writer and poet, whose works include a historical tract containing the chronicles of the monk of David of Homs as well as comments on festivals.
an 18th-century Bosniak dervish and prose writer. In addition to Bosnian, his work was written in Turkish, Arabic and Persian. Ilhamija was educated in his birth town and in Tešanj and Fojnica. He also attended the Ferhadija Mosque in Tešanj. His final work, the Bosnian Book of the Science of Conduct, is a work that lists 54 religious duties that each foll...
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an 18th-century Bosniak dervish and prose writer. In addition to Bosnian, his work was written in Turkish, Arabic and Persian. Ilhamija was educated in his birth town and in Tešanj and Fojnica. He also attended the Ferhadija Mosque in Tešanj. His final work, the Bosnian Book of the Science of Conduct, is a work that lists 54 religious duties that each follower of Islam must know about, believe in, and fulfill, followed by advice on what a religious person should and should not do.
a Spanish historian and abbot. Born in Dueñas, Palencia province, he was abbot of San Frontís de Zamora. He translated works from Latin and composed and published in various editions a Historia pontifical y cathólica (Pontifical and Catholic History).
a Cistercian scholar who was active during the last half of the 17th century. He spent much of his career in Rome and rose to the title of abbot. He was a theologian and a Hebrew scholar who wrote prolifically in his fields.
an English novelist, actress, and dramatist. Between 1784 and 1805 she had nineteen of her comedies, sentimental dramas, and farces (many of which were translations from the French) performed at London theatres. Eighteen of her plays were published, though she wrote several more; the exact number is in dispute though most recent commentators claim between 21...
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an English novelist, actress, and dramatist. Between 1784 and 1805 she had nineteen of her comedies, sentimental dramas, and farces (many of which were translations from the French) performed at London theatres. Eighteen of her plays were published, though she wrote several more; the exact number is in dispute though most recent commentators claim between 21 and 23. Her two novels have been frequently reprinted. She also did considerable editorial and critical work.
a Chinese Linji Chán Buddhist monk, poet, and calligrapher. He is most known for founding the Obaku school of Zen Buddhism in Japan. Ingen's father disappeared when he was five. At age 20, while searching for him, Ingen arrived at Mount Putuo off Zhejiang province, where he served tea to monks. At 28, after the death of his mother, he was ordained as a monk...
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a Chinese Linji Chán Buddhist monk, poet, and calligrapher. He is most known for founding the Obaku school of Zen Buddhism in Japan. Ingen's father disappeared when he was five. At age 20, while searching for him, Ingen arrived at Mount Putuo off Zhejiang province, where he served tea to monks. At 28, after the death of his mother, he was ordained as a monk at his family temple - Wanfu Temple, Mount Huangbo, Fujian.
an American author, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He is best known for his short stories Rip Van Winkle (1819) and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1820), both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.. His historical works include biographies of more
an American author, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He is best known for his short stories Rip Van Winkle (1819) and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1820), both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.. His historical works include biographies of George Washington, Oliver Goldsmith and Muhammad, and several histories of 15th-century Spain dealing with subjects such as Christopher Columbus, the Moors and the Alhambra. Irving served as the U.S. ambassador to Spain from 1842 to 1846.
the author of a midrashic commentary on the Bible, the first portion of which (Genesis) was published in 1786 at Sulzbach under the title 'Bet Aharon' (House of Aaron).
a never-married, elite, intellectual woman from seventeenth-century England. She was best known for her knowledge of medicine and for two autobiographical diaries that detail her life. She remained a very pious individual throughout her life. She was a humble and family-oriented individual, especially showing great respect for her father. She showed no greed...
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a never-married, elite, intellectual woman from seventeenth-century England. She was best known for her knowledge of medicine and for two autobiographical diaries that detail her life. She remained a very pious individual throughout her life. She was a humble and family-oriented individual, especially showing great respect for her father. She showed no greed or interest in wealth or materialistic goods.
a Spanish Jesuit, celebrated as a preacher and a humorist and satirist of the stamp of Miguel de Cervantes. Premature, bright and highly gifted intellectually, he was a compulsive reader from childhood and graduated with his bachiller in law at eleven year...
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a Spanish Jesuit, celebrated as a preacher and a humorist and satirist of the stamp of Miguel de Cervantes. Premature, bright and highly gifted intellectually, he was a compulsive reader from childhood and graduated with his bachiller in law at eleven years old. He entered the Society of Jesus at sixteen (1719) in the novitiate of Villagarcía de Campos, studying philosophy and theology at the University of Salamanca. At nineteen he translated History of the Emperor Teodosio de Flechier. In collaboration with a teacher, also a Jesuit, Father Luis de Lozada (1681-1748), he wrote La juventud triunfante (Triumphant Youth) (Salamanca, 1727), a description in prose and verse, interspersed with four comedies by unnamed authors.
a Portuguese rabbi, kabbalist, writer, diplomat, printer and publisher, founder of the first Hebrew printing press (named Emeth Meerets Titsma`h) in Amsterdam in 1626. Menasseh ben Israel was the author of many works. His major work Nishmat Hayim is a treatise in Hebrew on the Jewish concept of reincarnation of souls, published by his son Samuel six years be...
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a Portuguese rabbi, kabbalist, writer, diplomat, printer and publisher, founder of the first Hebrew printing press (named Emeth Meerets Titsma`h) in Amsterdam in 1626. Menasseh ben Israel was the author of many works. His major work Nishmat Hayim is a treatise in Hebrew on the Jewish concept of reincarnation of souls, published by his son Samuel six years before they both died.
an eminent Polish Ashkenazic rabbi, talmudist, and posek (expert in Jewish law). Isserles was born in Kraków, Poland. His father, Israel ben Josef (known as Isserl), was a prominent talmudist and independently wealthy, who had probably headed the community; his grandfather, Jehiel Luria, was the first rabbi of Brisk. (In an era which preceded the common use...
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an eminent Polish Ashkenazic rabbi, talmudist, and posek (expert in Jewish law). Isserles was born in Kraków, Poland. His father, Israel ben Josef (known as Isserl), was a prominent talmudist and independently wealthy, who had probably headed the community; his grandfather, Jehiel Luria, was the first rabbi of Brisk. (In an era which preceded the common use of surnames, Moses became known by his patronymic, Isserles.) He studied in Lublin under Rabbi Shalom Shachna, who would later become his father-in-law.
a Chamberlain of the City of Exeter and an antiquarian. He was the son of Richard Izacke (c.1624–1698) and his wife Katherine, of Devon. He was a lawyer who served as Chamberlain of the City of Exeter. He was an antiquarian, who produced a second edition of a book by his father, which has been described as "a careless compilation."
