Plural Modernities, Global Histories:: ARAÚJO, André de Melo LIMA, Luís Filipe Silvério, DORÉ, Andréa, RIBEIRO MACHEL, Marília de Azambuja, RODRIGUES, Rui Luis (org.). A Época Moderna. Petrópolis: Vozes, 2024.

Abstract

This review critically examines the volume A Época Moderna, organized by André de Melo Araújo, Luís Filipe Silvério Lima, Andréa Doré, Marília de Azambuja Ribeiro Machel, and Rui Luis Rodrigues, published in 2024 by Editora Vozes. Resulting from the collective work of researchers affiliated with the Brazilian Network of Early Modern History Studies (h_moderna), the book offers a reinterpretation of the Early Modern Period (15th to 18th centuries) through a critical, global, and non-Eurocentric historiographical lens. Structured in four sections — structural aspects, global spaces and circulations, cultural transformations, and conflicts and revolutions — the collection connects classical historiographical themes with renewed approaches, incorporating historically marginalized subjects, transcontinental networks, and a plurality of historical experiences.

The review highlights the book’s main strengths, especially its commitment to challenging teleological narratives and European centrality, as well as its emphasis on alternative practices and epistemologies. Particularly noteworthy are the chapters on Atlantic and Indian Ocean circulations, Islamic and Asian modernities, critiques of Renaissance humanism and the Enlightenment, and the Atlantic revolutions, all of which contribute significantly to renewing the field of Early Modern History in Brazil. Nonetheless, the review also points out relevant limitations, such as the recurring European focus in some sections, the lack of a more systematic intersectional approach, and uneven empirical and theoretical depth across chapters.

Despite these issues, the collection proves to be a valuable resource for both higher education and teacher training, as it combines historiographical and methodological updates with pedagogical concerns. By challenging traditional foundations of modern historiography, A Época Moderna establishes itself as a key reference for rethinking the foundations and multiple expressions of modernity on a global scale.