The meaning of the discovery of new world, the flourishing of printing and artillery, the revival of learning in the historical-eschatological scenario of Guillaume Postel

G. Postel (1510-1581) was well-known French orientalist, Christian kabbalist, and millenarianist. In the age of Reformation and religious schism he kept optimistic and hoped for the new age of religious and political unity of the world, dreamed of foundation of the Kingdom of God on the earth. The historical-eschatological thought of Postel went back both to the neo-Joachimite medieval tradition and the Kabbalistic writings. According to Postel, the history of salvation divided into four periods: (1) the Age of the «Law of Nature» (from the Fall to Moses); (2) the age of the «Law of Scripture» (from Moses to Christ); (3) the age of the «Law of Grace» (from Christ to recent times). The last era (4), the Age of the «Restitution of all things» was beginning. Postel believed, that Muslims, Jews, and pagans of the New World would be converted and unified soon into one Christian nation under the rule of French King (Francis I, Henry II, Francis II, or Charles IX) and «pastor angelicus» (Postel himself). In our research we laid main emphasis on inclusion of realities of 16 th century into the medieval eschatological scenario. The discovery and Christianization of the New World was interpreted by Postel as necessary precondition for the beginning of new age. Providence of God permitted to reveal the world for the coming religious and political unifying. Postel thought, that main mission of both French kings and new angelic pope was conversion and subjection of Muslims. Therefore, the inventing and flourishing of artillery in Christianity was interpreted as providential prerequisite for attainment of military superiority under Turks. Furthermore, the inventing and triumph of printing and the revival of learning in Christian Europe was treated as necessary precondition for attainment of intellectual superiority under Muslims. Hence, in the eschatological framework the discovery and Christianization of the New World, the flourishing of artillery and printing, the revival of learning meant providential tools by which God realized his plan for humanity’s salvation.