Unlike the assumption that associates the ‘birth’ of al-Nahḍa (erroneously rendered into English as the “Arab Renaissance/Awakening”) with the 1798 French expedition to Egypt, a counter-assumption stipulates that there existed an indigenous/local form of modernity in Egypt during the 18th and early 19th centuries. This study focuses on the contributions of Shaykh Ḥasan al-‘Aṭṭār (1766-1835), a polymath scholar, writer, and Grand Imam who published in Arabic grammar and composition, logic, science, medicine, astronomy, and history, in addition to literary endeavors. Al-‘Aṭṭār’s peculiar position in Egypt’s modern history, attested by both his entrenchment in an indigenous, Islamic worldview and a first-hand encounter with the French colonizer/enlightener?, makes him qualified, more than any of his contemporaries, to be labeled as the first nahḍawī. By investigating al-‘Aṭṭār’s scholarly and literary contributions, this study shall explore how such contributions qualify him as a beacon or a genuine predecessor of an indigenous, Islamic modernity that adds another layer of signification to the existing term al-Nahḍa.

This presentation begins by examining the contrast between the European Renaissance—a periodization scheme that emerged in the post-Enlightenment era—and various self-proclaimed Renaissances across Europe, which were cultural movements rooted in their unique contexts. Notable examples include the Irish Renaissance, the Scots Renaissance, the Catalan Renaixença, the Czech Renaissance, and the Hebrew Renaissance, among others.

Beyond Europe, many regions have also claimed their own Renaissances, such as the Arabic Nahda, the Chinese Renaissances, the Indian Renaissances, and the Harlem Renaissance as well as the Mexican Renaissance, among others. It is particularly intriguing to note that these Global Renaissances often emerged from societies with long-standing traditions and cultural legacies, or from young nations eager to forge a distinct identity.

While acknowledging the significant impact of the European Renaissance on world history, this paper argues that various Global Renaissances equally merit critical inquiry and comparative analysis. It argues that Renaissances are dynamic and interconnected global phenomena with diverse manifestations. At their core, the concept of Renaissance revolves around the pursuit of identity, self-definition, and cultural transformation.

Moderator

While the term "renaissance" traditionally evokes a specific Western time period and cultural movement, this panel challenges that narrow interpretation by expanding the concept to include diverse cultural rebirths across the globe. It critiques Eurocentric narratives in renaissance studies, advocating for a more inclusive understanding that recognizes the vibrancy of cultural revitalization in contexts such as the Arab Nahda, the Chinese Renaissance, the Hebrew Renaissance, the Persian Renaissance, the Catalan Renaixença, the Harlem Renaissance, the renaissances in India, and the Maori Renaissance, among others.

By exploring these varied movements, the panel highlights the unique historical trajectories and social dynamics that shape each renaissance, emphasizing the intrinsic cultural forces at play. Moreover, it proposes the establishment of a new field of "global renaissances," spotlighting often-overlooked cultural phenomena and their significance. Ultimately, this panel aims to illuminate the rich tapestry of these movements, encouraging readers to reconsider what a renaissance can signify in our interconnected world.