Mundus furiosus

Abstract

Abstract – This contribution’s reflection begins with the parallels between the sixteenth century and the early twenty-first century, identifying both periods as times of “epochal change” and global crisis. In the sixteenth century, the discovery of America, the invention of the printing press, financial upheavals, and threats from the East transformed politics, economy, and culture. Today, similar phenomena – the rise of China, the digital revolution, challenges of global finance, and contemporary conflicts – are driving rapid and concentrated change. The contribution offers a reflection on the present and future prospects, showing how analyzing the past helps understand current tensions and the challenges of globalization, amid risks of conflict and opportunities for order.