During the early modern period, unprecedented economic, political, and cultural interconnections played a significant role in shaping new images of the world. Through an examination of historical and literary sources, we will analyze these transformations from a dual perspective. Firstly, we will investigate the metamorphoses in the concepts and practices of sovereignty prompted by the emergence of the first colonial empires. Secondly, we will explore how these changes influenced the formation of paradigms that support 'global' or 'connected' interpretations of social phenomena, delving into their origins, methodologies, and impacts.