Botánica en las misiones jesuíticas de américa española y el pacífico y las contribuciones de jesuitas centroeuropeos, siglos XVII y XVIII

Abstract

The present text focuses on the problem of European intellectual history and history of science, in relation to the conquest and colonization of overseas regions, especially America. The various problems of intellectual development and cultural transfers, brought about by the general opening of new horizonts, are discussed on the basis of documentation produced by the missionaries from the Central European provinces of the Society of Jesus, active in the New World in the 17th and 18th centuries. The text summarizes the opinions and stereotypes about the American flora formulated by the Jesuits, as well as their efforts to understand not only the laws of nature, but laws of universe through its study; and, at the same time, hints at the specific features of the Central European gaze upon the New World.

Keywords

• colonization
• america
• society of jesus
• missions
• botany
• history of science
• cultural transfer
• central europe
• 17th–18th century