| Abstrakt: |
"The Alchemy of Conquest: Science, Religion, and the Secrets of the New World" by Ralph Bauer is a book that explores the concept of "discovery" in early modern narratives of conquest and colonialism. Bauer argues that the European encounter with the Americas was influenced by late medieval ideas about alchemy, secrecy, and the structure of matter. The book examines the relationship between alchemy and evangelism, as well as the different perspectives of the Dominican and Franciscan orders towards indigenous people. Bauer also discusses how Europeans viewed the New World as a cultural tabula rasa and challenges the notion that English colonizers treated Amerindians more favorably than the Spanish. While some of Bauer's conclusions may not be strongly supported by the evidence presented, the book provides a fascinating exploration of the intellectual history of European expansionism. [Extracted from the article] |
