ABSTRACT
The introduction redefines the early modern Republic of Letters as an imagined community, inspired by Benedict Anderson’s concept. It moves away from essentialist definitions and explores how early modern scholars viewed themselves within a transnational commonwealth of learning. Through media like letters, biographies, and travel writings, scholars imagined a Europe-wide intellectual society. The introduction outlines historiographical debates around the term and provides a framework for studying scholarly identity and memory, positioning these as crucial to understanding the Republic of Letters. It argues that media representations were key in shaping this imagined community, setting the stage for the book’s exploration of scholarly virtues and the role of commemoration in learned communities.
