English travel-writing

This article analyse the portrayal of Eastern ruler as ‘another’ culture by English travellers. The endeavour was to show what were early modern English perceptions of a way of life of the Emperor Jahangir. During the first period of English commercial presence in India, the figuration of a culture was represented by its ruler. This practice homogenized and simplified a culture, making it more easily knowable and thus inferior. In the English travel writing of East, a ruler quickly becomes the focus of the civilized/barbaric binary.

This article has analysed the portrayal of eastern countries as «another» culture by English travellers. The endeavour was to show what were early modern English perceptions of «Eastern» power. The «backwardness» of the «others» was portrayed in the English travel writings through critical remarks concerning the political system of the eastern countries. English traveller had the same view and thought that eastern cities were rich but they needed a good government.