Languages, Identities and Cultural Transfers

Perception of Greece in Europe during the late nineteenth century

During this period, the attraction of romantic philhellenism had waned, and the perception of Greece in Europe was shaped by the reception of medieval and modern Greece in the European press. Journals and newspapers published in England, France, Germany, Italy, and The Netherlands rigorously analyzed these perceptions.

Reactions to the Greek state's progress and irredentist desires were closely followed among the European intelligentsia. New scholarship on the historical development of the Greek language and vernacular literature enhanced the image of medieval and modern Greece.

The press played a significant role in this Europe-wide exchange of ideas, linking romantic and late philhellenism, and underscoring the scholarly nature of the latter. Human aspects of cultural transfers were highlighted by focusing on networks of mediators, publishers, and scholarly collaborators.

This context deepens our understanding of the creation of Hellenic studies and the complex formation of modern Greek identity.