A Landscape of Toleration: Central Europe in the Early Modern Era

The question of religious toleration was crucial in the early modern era. Challenging simplistic views of toleration as mere peaceful coexistence, this essay explores its complexities from a historical perspective. It argues that toleration was a deliberate choice demanding effort and served as a flexible political tool in various contexts. Drawing on examples from Brandenburg-Prussia and Poland-Lithuania, it shows how toleration shaped political assets and public opinion. This essay introduces the concept of a “toleration landscape” to depict its multifaceted influence on society. Ultimately, it asserts Central Europe's pivotal role in early modern toleration, bridging historical divides between Eastern and Western Europe.