Animating empire: automata, the Holy Roman Empire, and the early modern world

Abstract

"Recounts the histories of German clockwork automata, which were given as gifts and collected in the Holy Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and Mughal Empire in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries"--Provided by publisher.

Contents

Early modern automata : an abridged history -- Ever more variations on theme at the court of Rudolf II -- The gifts that keep on giving -- A figure of speech -- Hapsburg-Ottoman diplomatic machinery -- Metamorphosis at the Mughal court -- Conclusion.