Abstract

In the early nineteenth century, France clearly dominated Oriental studies in Europe. A decline of this dominance began with the "Florist" controversy, a debate from 1825 to 1829 over the aims of Oriental scholarship. This clash of methods almost tore the Société Asiatique apart and succeeded in setting Orientalist scholars in France on an exacting, scientific course that eclipsed the Romantic, literary roots out of which their studies had sprung. Ironically, the adoption of this new agenda inhibited the further growth of Oriental studies in France and was indicative of the relative decline of science there.