We focused on the inhabitants of Ljubljana, their activities, and way of life. However, the history of the city was also influenced by newcomers from other Slovenian and foreign lands, as during these three centuries, migrations were notable in all the areas: trade, crafts, sciences, spirituality, creativity…

Primož Trubar designated Ljubljana as the centre of Carniola and his “dear Slovenians”, as the Slovenian Protestant Church had its seat there. The Early Modern Period already outlined the features of the city as it is today by giving it its distinctive baroque architecture. Ljubljana was neither a small nor always an obscure provincial town: in 1673, Edward Brown from Norwich in England described it as a city with beautiful churches, a castle, and the river Ljubljanica.

The exhibition focuses predominantly on the knowledge and activities of a handful of inhabitants – the social elite. The nobility became the most prominent promoter of culture and arts. Military careers were still interesting, though the nobility consolidated its position by ascribing a greater value to education, arts, and new administrative jobs at the provincial and imperial level. In the 18^th century, the nobility and the intelligentsia adopted the ideas of the Enlightenment, whose guideline was to look ahead rather than to the past. Most importantly, they wished to help the “ignorant” population. The members of Žiga Zois’s club of enlightened intellectuals initiated the Slovenian national rebirth.

Fifty-three printed Slovenian books, the knowledge developed at the Jesuit College, and the adoption of the ideas characteristic of the Enlightenment place Ljubljana with its actions, events, and renowned individuals on the map of Europe. By highlighting some of the central personalities of that period (Adam Bohorič, Dr Marko Gerbec, Mother Eleonora, Father Marko Pohlin, Baron Žiga Zois, and Valentin Vodnik), we wish to underline the contemporaneous creative thinking and scientific aspirations.

Knjiga. Znanje. Razum Od protestantizma do razsvetljenstva (1500–1800)

Monografija s prispevki z znanstvenega posveta ob razstavi Knjiga. Znanje. Razum  Od protestantizma do razsvetljenstva (1500–1800)

Book. Knowledge. Reason., From Protestantism to Enlightnment (1500-1800)

Exhibition Catalogue