Entangled Empires: Diplomacy and Cultural Exchange in Early Modern Imperial Relations

Abstract

This paper examines the multifaceted diplomatic and cultural exchanges between major imperial powers of the early modern period (1500-1800), with particular focus on Ottoman-Habsburg and Safavid-Qing relationships. Moving beyond traditional narratives that emphasize military confrontation, this study reveals how these imperial interactions fostered significant cultural, scientific, and religious transmissions that fundamentally transformed the participating societies. Through analysis of diplomatic correspondence, accounts of embassies, material culture, and artistic productions, this research demonstrates that imperial encounters operated through complex networks of knowledge transfer and cultural negotiation. The findings suggest that these non-military engagements were not merely peripheral to imperial relations but constituted essential mechanisms through which empires articulated their identities, asserted legitimacy, and adapted to changing geopolitical circumstances. This research contributes to evolving historiographical approaches that emphasize transcultural connections and entanglements rather than civilizational isolation or binary opposition.