Izvestiya of Saratov University.
ISSN 1819-4907 (Print)
ISSN 2542-1913 (Online)


modern urban studies

The Urban Space of London at the End of the XVI Century in the Perception of a Contemporary (based on Thomas Platter’s «Travels in England»)

The article examines the issues connected with a foreign contemporary’s perception of the urban space of London at the end of the XVI century basing on the analysis of “Travels in England” by Thomas Platter, a Swiss humanist. A particular attention is focused on clearing out the traveler’s views on the significance of the city, its size and planning, main elements and landmarks.

Thomas Platter and the Cultural Space of London at the End of the XVI Century

The article analyzes the perception of London cultural space of Thomas Platter, a foreign traveler and a contemporary from the view point of cultural and intellectual history. The author finds out how the cultural strata of a Swiss, brought up in humanistic environment, his subjective attitudes, thoughts, abilities (“cultural constraint”) are reflected in the “different” cultural strata. Platter focuses not only on the exterior cultural attributes of London and its architectural highlights.