Giambattista Toderini (Venice, 1728 – Venice, 4 July 1799) was a Venetian philosopher, writer, and former
Jesuitabbot.
Biography
Son of Domenico Maria and Anna Maria Cestari, he was the descendant of the Gagliardis dalla Volta
counts palatine. Toderini studied philosophy and archaeology, but tended toward contemplative and religious life since his youth and joined the
Society of Jesus. He was employed in teaching, dedicating himself to philosophy in
Verona and
Forlì.[1]
After the
suppression of the Jesuits, Toderini lost his position, and in October 1781 he joined the entourage of the Venetian ambassador to
Constantinople, Agostino Garzoni. Toderini remained there, living in the ambassador's house, until May 1786, studying Ottoman
Turkish literature and collecting books and manuscripts in Arabic and other languages. There, he wrote his three volume Letteratura Turchesa ("Turkish Literature"), the first European survey of Turkish literature, published in Venice the year after his return by Giacomo Storti. This work was soon translated into French and German.[2]
Toderini criticized slavery and colonialism, writing "You should ask the Negroes, bought like pitiful cattle to the dishonour of humanity, labouring at the caves of the [silver mines of] Potosi, and in Peru, losing their strength and life, what advantage they drew from the luxuries of Europe." His work sought to impress upon Europeans the degree to which Muslims had pursued science and knowledge, contrary to European perceptions at the time. Beyond his pioneering work on Turkish literature, Toderini's other works included religious tracts, a dissertation on marine lightning conductors, and other topics.[3]
Gorton, J. A general biographical dictionary, London, 1851.
Diario de Madrid, Vol. 5, Hilario Santos, includes July, August, and September 1787.
Ubicini, J.H.A. El Tansimat: organización de la Turquía actual, Madrid: Impr. José Trujillo, 1854.
Additional bibliography
Berkes, N. The development of secularism in Turkey, London: Hurst, 1998.
Faroqhi, S.N. The Cambridge history of Turkey, Cambridge, 2006.
Fetis, F.J. Complete treatise on the theory and practice of harmony, Pendragon Press, 2008.
Gunny, A. Perceptions of Islam in European writings, Islamic Foundation, 2004.
De Angelis, published the biography of Toderini in Vol. XLVI of the "Universal Biography" by Michaud.
Petro, P. Venezia i turchi, G.C. Sansoni, 1975.
Cavallini, Ivano. La musica turca nelle testimonianze dei viaggiatori e nella trattatistica del Sei-Settecento, Rivista italiana di musicologia 21/1 (1986), 144-169.