Migration and knowledge diffusion: lessons from the early modern world

This chapter explores the dynamic relationship between migration and innovation in the early modern period (ca. 1400–1800), challenging the traditional narrative that views this era merely as a precursor to the mass migrations and industrialisation of later centuries. It was a time of early globalisation, characterised by interconnected trade and exchanges across all inhabited continents, yet devoid of nation-states or dominant western imperial powers. This decentralised framework shaped unique patterns of human mobility and technological exchange, offering valuable counter-narratives to modern migration discourses. By examining the theoretical foundations of historical science and technology studies, the chapter presents a typology of early modern migration and its effects, revealing attitudes toward migrants that diverge sharply from contemporary perspectives. The chapter concludes by addressing the limitations of migration-driven innovation during this period, providing a nuanced understanding of its transformative yet constrained potential.