Introduction

Abstract

After a discussion of the twentieth anniversary issue, the author of the book which is the subject of our “round table” review of this twenty-fifth anniversary issue: Merry Wiesner Hanks’ What is Early Modern History (2021) is introduced. This is followed by a brief account of the rationale behind the foundation of the JEMH in the 1990s and how, from the very first issue, the journal has tried to decolonize our understanding of the period 1300–1800, as exemplified by Antony Black’s warning that: “we should stop selling off second-hand concepts to unsuspecting non-European cultures.” Passing comment is made on the chronological (as well as geographical) breadth of the coverage of the JEMH which accords well with the recent merger of the Centers for Medieval and Early Modern History at the University of Minnesota (to form the Center for Premodern Studies). At a time when the advocacy of the study of pre-modern history is vital as never before, this situates the JEMH very well. The introduction closes with a series of acknowledgements and thanks not only directed to the editorial team both in Minnesota and Leiden for the support they have given me, as editor-in-chief, since July 2010, but also to the numerous authors and readers of manuscripts who have made the journal what it is today.