Chapter Introduction

Overview & Synopsis

This book highlights the crucial contributions of translators in shaping early modern diplomacy, offering a unique lens through which to understand the growing complexity of international relations and communication in this era. The early modern period was a transformative time for European diplomacy, marked by the rise of resident diplomacy, the advent of peace congresses, and significant shifts in linguistic practices. As Latin, German, and Italian waned as major diplomatic languages, French emerged as the dominant pan-European medium of diplomatic communication. These changes had profound implications for translation in diplomacy, shaping its role, function, and institutionalisation. New translation departments were established, and the need for trained translators became critical, leading to the foundation of schools and the development of specialised practices. By adopting a transnational perspective, the book offers a fresh, insightful exploration of the evolution of translation and its impact on the expanding network of diplomatic contacts and correspondence. Bringing a panoramic and multidisciplinary approach to the history of translation, this book is intended for scholars and students of the early modern period, translation studies, the history of diplomacy, the history of languages and historical sociolinguistics, and European cultural history more generally.