This book analyzes aspects of the material culture of the early modern Greek period from a longitudinal perspective, using surviving objects from the era as primary sources. A printed book, a wine jar, an ecclesiastical embroidery, and a wallet watch are used as starting points to examine the consumption practices of the emerging Greek urban bourgeoisie under Ottoman dominance in the long 18th century.
The acquisition and use of new products – especially imported ones – by the Greeks was linked to personal expression, identity-building, and self-determination within the framework of the Enlightenment. The enjoyment of innovative objects opened new horizons and facilitated individual and collective empowerment.
The originality of the book lies in its selective and interdisciplinary approach to early modern Greek material culture, a subject that has inevitably remained underexplored. The study is integrated into contemporary discussions on inter-state trade, the materiality of everyday life, pleasurable consumption, and the negotiation of identities.
This volume will be of interest to students and scholars of early and modern Greek history, Ottoman history, European history, material culture, the history of technology, museum studies, and cultural heritage studies, as well as museum professionals, collectors, and the broader educated public.
