1

ITALIAN RENAISSANCE IN POLITICS & LITERATURE

I.

ITALIAN RENAISSANCE 14-16th CENTURIES

A.
INTRODUCTION
1.
IN ITALIAN TOWNS DURING 14 & 15TH C. THINKERS & ARTISTS
BEGAN TO VIEW 1000 YRS ELAPSING SINCE FALL OF ROME AS "DARK
AGES"
a.
A TIME OF STAGNATION & IGNORANCE
b.
A MIDDLE AGE BETWEEN CLASSICAL & THEIR NEW WISE &
WONDERFUL AGE
(1)
OR MEDIEVAL
(2)
MEANING MEDIOCRITY
2.
IN FACT TERMS DARK AGES & MIDDLE AGES COINED BY THESE
ITALIANS IN 14-15TH CENTURIES
a.
THESE WERE DERISIVE TERMS
3.
THESE ITALIANS SAID THEY PARTICIPATING IN AN INTELLECTUAL &
AESTHETIC REVOLUTION SPARKED BY REBIRTH OF THE VALUES &
IDEAS OF CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY THAT OCCURRED 1000 YRS
PREVIOUSLY
4.
REBIRTH - MEANING OF TERM
5.
MODERN HISTORIANS HAVE ACCEPTED TERM RENAISSANCE AS
CONVENIENT LABEL FOR THIS AGE

II.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
HISTORIANS TODAY ALMOST UNIVERSALLY AGREE THAT CULTURAL
HERITAGE FROM CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY HAD NEVER ACTUALLY
DISAPPEARED FROM MEDIEVAL WEST
2.
IN FACT, RENAISSANCE ARTISTS & INTELLECTUALS OWED A
SUBSTANTIAL DEBT TO THEIR MEDIEVAL PREDECESSORS
3.
BUT SOME DISTINCT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LATE MEDIEVAL &
RENAISSANCE CULTURE IN ITALY
4.
RENAISSANCE PEOPLE MORE MATERIALISTIC, SKEPTICAL, MANCENTERED & INDIVIDUALISTIC THAN MEDIEVAL PEOPLE
5.
GREATEST CHANGE FROM EMPHASIS ON A GOD-CENTERED WORLD
IN MA TO MAN AS CENTER OF UNIVERSE IN RENAISSANCE
6.
MEN WERE ATTEMPTING TO CREATE THINGS, TO DO THINGS & TO
STUDY THINGS AS ENDS IN THEMSELVES
7.
RATHER THAN AS THE MEANS TO THE GLORIFICATION OF GOD &
THEIR SALVATION
8.
AS 1 HSX AS OBSERVED (CHABOD)
a.
ART FOR ART'S SAKE, POLITICS FOR POLITICS' SAKE &
SCIENCE FOR SCIENCE'S SAKE
9.
LEON BATTISTA ALBERTI 1404-1472)
a.
WRITER, ARCHITECT, MATHEMATICIAN REMARKED
b.
MEN CAN DO ALL THINGS IF THEY WILL
B.
HUMANISM
1.
ONE OF WAYS TO REVIVE ANCIENT CULTURE - REFORM EDUCATION
BY STUDYING CLASSICS
2.
ANCIENT AUTHORS HAD BEEN STUDIED IN MIDDLE AGES
3.
BUT MEDIEVAL PEOPLE HAD INVESTIGATED ANCIENTS IN ORDER TO
KNOWN GOD
4.
RENAISSANCE HUMANISTS STUDIED CLASSICS TO UNDERSTAND
HUMAN NATURE
a.
CALLED THEMSELVES HUMANISTS
5.
NAME DERIVED FROM STUDIA HUMANITATIS OR HUMANISTIC
STUDIES

2
a.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

ROMANS HAD USED IN SENSE OF LIBERAL OR LITERARY

EDUCATION
6.
TERM HAD NOTHING TO DO W/HUMANITY OR RIGHTS OF MAN
7.
WE USE TERM TODAY IN NEGATIVE CONNOTATION
a.
CALL HUMANISTS NON-BELIEVERS IN GOD
8.
HUMANISTS IN RENAISSANCE - CHRISTIANS
9.
STUDIED CLASSICS BECAUSE THEN YOU WOULD BE MORE
VIRTUOUS
10.
RENAISSANCE HUMANISTS DEVELOPED AN INSATIABLE APPETITE
FOR MANUSCRIPTS FROM ANCIENTS
PETRARCH 1265-1321
1.
CONSIDERED FATHER OF HUMANISM
2.
HIS LIFE GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS NEW PURSUIT OF CLASSICAL
LITERATURE
3.
HE WROTE A PRIVATE AUTOBIOGRAPHY, THE SECRETUM
a.
DISCUSSED W/HIS CHOSEN MENTOR ST. AUGUSTINE HIS
VANITY, HIS DESIRE FOR FAME, HIS OBSESSION W/MARRIED
WOMAN, LAURA
4.
HE ESCAPED MELANCHOLY INTO ONLY SOCIETY HE FOUND
CONGENIAL,
a.
THAT OF THE GREEK & ROMAN WRITERS OF ANTIQUITY
b.
HOW MUCH MORE I FIND MY DELIGHT AMONG THE DEAD
THAN W/THE LIVING
5.
CONDEMNING SCHOLARS OF THE MIDDLE AGES AS
a.
"MISGUIDED FOOLS WHO WRITE NOTHING, KNOW LITTLE &
YELL MUCH & OFF THE POINT"
6.
BY HIS DEATH OTHER SCHOLARS WERE BEGINNING TO SHARE
PETRARCH'S ENTHUSIASM FOR THE ANCIENT CLASSICS
INFLUENCE OF CLASSICAL LATIN & VERNACULAR LANGUAGES
1.
BY LATE 15TH C. HUMANISTS HAD DEVELOPED PASSION FOR
CICERONIAN LATIN - CLASSICAL LATIN
2.
ONE HUMANIST CARDINAL EVEN HESITATED TO READ ST. PAUL'S
EPISTLES FOR FEAR THEY MIGHT CORRUPT HIS LATIN STYLE
3.
MEANT HUMANISTS REGARDED MEDIEVAL LATIN AS BARBAROUS IN
ITS VOCABULARY, SYNTAX
4.
VITAL LIVING LANGUAGE OF MEDIEVAL LATIN KILLED IN ORDER TO
REVIVE A DEAD LANGUAGE
5.
BUT RENAISSANCE DID LAY BASIS FOR MASS NATIONAL LITERACY
BY PATRONIZING VERNACULAR TONGUES
a.
ITALIAN, SPANISH, FRENCH, ENGLISH
6.
IN FACT, 2 OF MOST FAMOUS, CASTIGLIONE & MACHIAVELLI,
WROTE IN ITALIAN
SECULAR OR WORLDLY SPIRIT
1.
SECULAR SPIRIT PERMEATED ALL AREAS OF LIFE
2.
NO LONGER ACCEPTED MEDIEVAL RELIANCE ON EXCLUSIVE TRUTH
OF CHRISTIANITY
3.
NON-CHRISTIAN CULTURES POSSESSED WORTHY TRUTHS TOO
4.
TRUTH NO LONGER IDENTIFIABLE ONLY W/CHURCH
5.
BASIC CONCERN W/MATERIAL WORLD OF PRESENT NOT HEAVENLY
WORLD THEY WOULD LIVE IN SOMEDAY
CIVIC HUMANISM
1.
SECULAR SPIRIT MOST EVIDENT IN PEOPLE'S DESIRE TO
PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL STRUCTURE
2.
ONE UTILIZED ONE'S CLASSICAL LEARNING FOR THE BENEFIT OF
SOCIETY
3.
CHANCELLOR OR FLORENTINE REPUBLIC L. BRUNI, SUGGESTED
MAN COULD FULFIL HIMSELF ONLY AS AN ACTIVE CITIZEN
INDIVIDUALISM - EGOCENTRICITY

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1.

H.

RENAISSANCE SAW STRONG QUEST FOR FAME & GLORY AS

INDIVIDUAL
2.
RENAISSANCE IS HISTORY OF INDIVIDUALS EXPRESSING
THEMSELVES IN VARIETY OF WAYS
3.
NOT ANONYMOUSLY WORKING TOWARDS COMMON GOAL AS IN
MIDDLE AGES
a.
EG. CATHEDRAL BUILDING IN MIDDLE AGES
4.
ONE MUST REMEMBER RENAISSANCE MOVEMENT WAS A MINORITY
MOVEMENT
5.
TREMENDOUS INDIVIDUAL CONFIDENCE & EGO
a.
MATTEO PALMIERI - MID 15TH C.
(1)
"THANK GOD THAT I WAS
PERMITTED TO BE BORN IN THIS NEW AGE, SO FULL
OF HOPE & PROMISE, WHICH HAS A GREATER ARRAY
OF NOBLY-GIFTED SOULS THAN THE WORLD HAS SEEN
IN THE PREVIOUS 1000 YRS.
6.
BANKER JACOB FUGGER OF AUGSBURG, GERMANY
a.
WHILE NOT ITALIAN THE EPITAPH HE COMPOSED
EPITOMIZES RENAISSANCE SPIRIT OF ITALIANS: TO THE
BEST, GREATEST GOD, JACOB FUGGER OF AUBSBURG, THE
ORNAMENT OF HIS CLASS & PEOPLE, IMPERIAL UNDER
MAXIMILLIAN I & CHARLES V, WHO WAS BEHIND NO ONE IN
THE ATTAINMENT OF EXTRAORDINARY WEALTH, IN
GENEROSITY, PURITY OF MORALS & GREATNESS OF SOUL, IS
AS HE WAS NOT COMPARABLE WITH ANYONE IN HIS
LIFETIME, EVEN AFTER DEATH NOT TO BE COUNTED AMONG
THE MORTALS."
7.
RISE OF PORTRAITURE IN ART REFLECTS THIS EGO
a.
ATTEMPT TO EMULATE ANCIENT ROME'S USE OF PROFILES
ON COINS, BUSTS,
b.
IN 1500 MOVED INTO FULL BODY & FRONTAL VIEWS
8.
THEY FELT THEMSELVES UNIQUE & LIVING IN NEW ERA
9.
LEAVING MEDIEVAL WORLD BEHIND
10.
PROGRESSING TOWARDS NEW WORLD VIEWS
11.
MAN IS THE MEASURE OF ALL THINGS
a.
APT QUOTE FOR THE MEN OF THE RENAISSANCE
UNIVERSAL MAN
1.
LIFE WAS BEST LIVED WHEN THE HUMAN PERSONALITY SHOWED
ITS VERSATILITY BY EXPRESSION IN MANY FORMS
a.
ADVANCEMENT OF THE MIND
b.
PERFECTION OF THE BODY
c.
CULTIVATION OF SOCIAL GRACES
d.
APPRECIATION & CREATIVITY IN THE ARTS
2.
TO BECOME AN UNIVERSAL MAN WAS CONTEMPORARY IDEAL
3.
BUT DIFFICULT TO FIND MANY PEOPLE WHO EPITOMIZED THIS
4.
TODAY WE EQUATE RENAISSANCE MAN W/UNIVERSAL MAN
5.
RENAISSANCE PEOPLE THOUGHT NB TO BE WELL-VERSED IN
a.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE & LANGUAGES
b.
INVOLVED IN CIVIC LIFE
c.
KNOWLEDGEABLE IN MUSIC
6.
LEONARDO DA VINCI'S PROBABLY MOST NB EXPONENT OF THIS
CONCEPT OF UNIVERSAL MAN
a.
ENGINEER, SCULPTOR, PAINTER, INVENTOR (FLYING
MACHINE, TANKS, PARACHUTES, SUBMARINES), BOTANIST
b.
FRANCIS I OF FRANCE
(1)
NO OTHER MAN HAD BEEN
BORN WHO KNEW AS MUCH AS LEONARDO
c.
LEONARDO'S PUPIL

d.
e.

III.

(1)
IT IS A HURT FOR ANYONE
TO LOSE SUCH A MAN, FOR NATURE CANNOT AGAIN
PRODUCE HIS LIKE
WHEN NOT GETTING KIND OF COMMISSIONS FROM HIS
PATRON, LORENZO DE MEDICI
LEONARDO WROTE TO LODOVICO SFORZA, THE MOOR, OF
MILAN, ASKING FOR POSITION.
f.
"I HAVE PLANS FOR BRIDGES, VERY
LIGHT & STRONG, PLANS FOR SIEGE ENGINES, FOR CANNON
THAT HURL SMALL STONES W/EFFECT OF HAIL, I CAN MAKE
ARMORED VEHICLES WHICH WILL ENTER THE RANKS OF THE
ENEMY WITH ARTILLERY AND BEHIND THESE THE INFANTRY
WILL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW. IN TIMES OF PEACE, I BELIEVE I
CAN GIVE YOU AS COMPLETE SATISFACTION AS ANYONE
ELSE IN ARCHITECTURE....ALSO I CAN EXECUTE SCULPTURE
IN MARBLE, BRONZE, R CLAY & ALSO PAINTING. ALSO I CAN
SING AND PLAY THE LUTE

WHY DID RENAISSANCE OCCUR IN ITALY

A.
GENERAL COMMENTS
1.
KEY LIES IN POLITICAL & ECONOMIC LIFE OF ITALY
2.
3 MAIN REASONS
a.
POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF ITALY
b.
ITALIAN WEALTH
c.
ITALY'S STRONGER CLASSICAL ROMAN HERITAGE ROOTS
B.
POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF ITALY
1.
BY 14-15TH C. ITALY HAD DEVELOPED INTO 5 MAJOR CITY-STATES
a.
REPUBLIC OF FLORENCE
b.
REPUBLIC OF VENICE
c.
PAPAL STATES
d.
KINGDOM OF NAPLES
e.
DUCHY OF MILAN
2.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO AMERICA IF 12 ORIGINAL STATES
NOT ADOPTED CONSTITUTION & BECAME U.S.A.
3.
CITY-STATES EVENTUALLY SETTLED ON 2 TYPES OF GOVT
a.
SIGNORI OR DESPOTS OR 1 MAN RULE OR TYRANTS
b.
OLIGARCHIES OF WEALTHY MERCHANTS
(1)
MISNAMED REPUBLICS
c.
SOME OF THESE TYRANTS WERE MILITARY MEN WHO HAD
BEEN LEADERS OF BANDS OF MERCENARY SOLDIERS
(1)
CONDOTIERRI
(a)
I.E. SFORZAS, GONZAGAS
i)
GREAT READING BY SHELLEBERGER,
PRINCE OF FOXES
d.
BUT MOST OF TYRANTS HAD COME TO POWER AT
INVITATION OF SEGMENT OF THE CITY
e.
UNREST IN CITIES BETWEEN POORER & WEALTHIER
MEMBERS OF SOCIETY
f.
LED THEM TO BELIEVE OUTSIDER BEST REPRESENT THEIR
INTERESTS & IMPOSE ORDER
(1)
LIKE TODAY WHEN A CITY BRINGS IN AN OUTSIDE
MANAGER
g.
YOUR TEXT COVERS THIS DEVELOPMENT FROM COMMUNES
TO THESE TYPES OF GOVT STRUCTURES
4.
BOTH OLIGARCHIES & DESPOTS HAD THEIR OWN
a.
COURTS
b.
MILITIA
c.
CURRENCY

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d.
INTERNATIONAL AMBASSADORS
SOVEREIGN IN THEIR OWN RIGHT JUST LIKE FRANCE & ENGLAND
REMINISCENT OF ANCIENT GREEK CITY-STATES
CONSEQUENTLY ITALIAN PENINSULA WILL BE TOO EMBROILED IN
INDIVIDUALISM TO COALESCE INTO A NATION
8.
PEOPLE THOUGHT OF THEMSELVES AS FLORENTINES OR
VENETIANS RATHER THAN AS ITALIANS
9.
THEIR PATRIOTIC LOYALTY WENT TO THEIR CITY OR DUCHY
10.
SPIRIT OF COMPETITION AMONG TOWNS DEVELOPED
a.
CAMPANILISMO = BELL TOWER IDEA
(1)
MY BELL TOWER IS HIGHER THAN YOURS
(2)
NB FACTOR FOR PATRONAGE OF ARTISTS
(3)
HIGHEST BIDDER GOT BEST ARTISTS
11.
THE TINY REPUBLIC OF SAN MARINO ON EASTERN COAST OF ITALY
RELIC OF THIS PERIOD
12.
ALTHOUGH ITS 24 SQ MILES ARE ENTIRELY SURROUNDED BY
ITALIAN SOIL, IT IS LEGALLY INDEPENDENT OF ITALY
13.
CLAIMS TO BE THE OLDEST STATE IN EUROPE
WEALTH OF ITALY
1.
THESE CITY-STATES WERE THRIVING CENTERS OF TRADE &
COMMERCE
2.
CITIES OF CENTRAL & NORTHERN ITALY IS WHERE RENAISSANCE
ORIGINATED
3.
BACKBONE OF THIS WEALTH WAS 3-PRONGED
a.
LUXURY TRADE W/EAST
(1)
VENICE MAIN CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS
b.
LUXURY CLOTHE INDUSTRY
(1)
FLORENCE MAIN CENTER
(2)
FLORENCE CENTER FOR WEAVING OF LUXURIOUS &
QUALITY WOOLEN & SILK CLOTHE
(3)
CLOTHED THE RULERS, ARISTOCRATS & WEALTHY OF
EUROPE
(4)
BROCADES, VELVETS, SILVER & GOLD CLOTH,
TAFFETA, SATIN, SILK
c.
BANKING INDUSTRY
4.
ITALIANS ALWAYS HAD BEEN BANKERS TO KINGS & POPES DURING
MIDDLE AGES
5.
FAMILY BANKING HOUSES
a.
MEDICI
(1)
WORLD FAMOUS
(2)
BRANCHES ALL OVER EUROPE
6.
BY 14TH C PROFITS OF THIS TRADE & COMMERCE MEANT ITALIAN
CITIES HAD BECOME LAVISH PATRONS OF ARTS & LETTERS
7.
WHENEVER POSSIBLE THEY CONSPICUOUSLY DISPLAYED THEIR
WEALTH
8.
NOT EVEN A PERIOD OF DEPRESSION AGGRAVATED BY BLACK
DEATH FAILED TO EFFECT PATRONAGE
9.
WHEN PROFITS FELL, ITALIAN MERCHANTS & BANKERS LEARNED
TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT IN THEIR BUSINESS METHODS
10.
ITALIANS DEVELOPED
a.
DOUBLE ENTRY BOOKKEEPING
(1)
EASILY CAN TELL WHETHER MAKING OR LOSING
MONEY
b.
MARINE INSURANCE
(1)
COVERED HAZARDS OF STORMS & PIRACY
c.
BILLS OR EXCHANGE OR CREDIT
(1)
PRECURSOR TO OUR CHECKING SYSTEM
11.
ITALIAN BUSINESSMEN DIVERSIFIED & INVESTED IN CULTURE FOR
5.
6.
7.

C.

D.

IV.

ITS PERMANENCE OF VALUE

a.
MUCH AS BUSINESSMEN BUY FASHIONABLE ART TODAY FOR
INVESTMENT
FLORENCE
1.
BUT FLORENCE WHERE MAJOR FLOWERING OF RENAISSANCE TOOK
PLACE
2.
WHERE MAJORITY OF ARTISTS & WRITERS CALLED HOME
a.
DANTE - BOCCACCIO - PETRARCH - MACHIAVELLI
BOTTICELLI- DONATELLO - LEONARDO DA VINCI MICHELANGELO
3.
WHY FLORENCE?
4.
SHE HAD GOOD PRESS SHE DEVELOPED HERSELF
a.
MASTER AT TOOTING HER OWN HORN
5.
WEALTH FROM CLOTH & BANKING INDUSTRIES FINANCED
RENAISSANCE IN FLORENCE
6.
FLORENCE YOU SEE TODAY IS FROM RENAISSANCE PERIOD
7.
IN FACT MUCH OF N. ITALIAN CITIES BEAUTIFIED DURING REN.
PERIOD
8.
ALL MORE REMARKABLE THAT SO MANY OF FLORENTINES DIED
FROM BLACK DEATH
9.
LABOR PROBLEMS - IE. CIOMPI REBELLION
10.
REPUDIATION OF DEBT TO BANKERS BY EDWARD III OF ENGLAND
DURING FIRST PART OF 100 YRS WAR
11.
FLORENTINES DELIGHTED IN CREATING BEAUTY
12.
FOR THE CITY BEAUTY WAS & IS A WAY OF LIFE
a.
THIS LEGACY HAS CONTINUED TODAY
(1)
BEAUTIFUL LEATHER WORK, GOLD JEWELRY
13.
ARTISANS, CRAFTSMEN, PEOPLE OF FLORENCE NEVER STINTED
WHEN IT CAME TO EMBELLISHING FLORENCE
a.
CATHEDRAL, CHAPELS, HOMES, ART WORKS
14.
IN FLORENCE ART COMMISSIONED BY COMPETITION
15.
ALL CITIZENS INVOLVED
16.
APPEALED TO PEOPLE'S DESIRE TO ENHANCE CITY'S BEAUTY &
FAME
17.
WANTED FLORENCE TO BE MOST RENOWN CITY
18.
CF W/TODAY WHEN CITIES COMPETE W/EACH OTHER FOR SPORTS'
TEAMS NOT INTELLECTUAL OR ARTISTIC PURSUITS

FAMOUS PATRONS OF ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

A.
MEDICI
1.
FAMOUS FLORENTINE FAMILY
2.
DE FACTO RULERS OF FLORENCE 300 YRS +
3.
WHILE OFFICIALLY JUST MEMBERS OF THE RULING COUNCIL
a.
NOT ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE
4.
NO ONE DOUBTED WHO REALLY RAN FLORENCE
5.
IN SAME WAY MANY THEORETICALLY DEMOCRATIC AMERICAN
CITIES HAVE BEEN RUN EFFECTIVELY BY PARTY BOSSES FOR LONG
PERIODS OF TIME
a.
I.E. CHICAGO
6.
COSIMO DE MEDICI
a.
MEDICI BANKING BUSINESS REACHED ITS ZENITH UNDER
HIM
b.
SAID TO BE RICHEST MAN IN WORLD
c.
BANKER WHO FOUNDED BRANCHES ALL OVER EUROPE
d.
BIGGEST CUSTOMER WAS POPE
(1)
CLOSE FRIEND OF 3 SUCCESSIVE POPES
(2)
CONFERRED TREMENDOUS PRESTIGE ON MEDICI
(3)
COLLECTED CHURCH REVENUES FOR A COMMISSION

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(4)

B.

AS BANKERS TO POPE, COULD THREATEN DEFAULTING

DEBTORS W/EXCOMMUNICATION
(5)
AT TIMES HALF THEIR PROFITS FROM PAPAL
ACCOUNTS
(6)
OFTEN HAD TO BAIL POPE OUT OF FINANCIAL
DIFFICULTIES
(a)
1 OCCASION ACCEPTED HIS JEWELLED MITER
IN PAWN
e.
DE FACTO RULER OF FLORENCE FOR 30 YRS
f.
SPENT A FORTUNE ON BEAUTIFYING FLORENCE
g.
ESTABLISHED PLATONIC ACADEMY
h.
MANY HUMANISTS GRAVITATED TO PLATONISM AS
REBELLION AGAINST ARISTOTELIAN EMPHASIS ON NATURAL
SCIENCE
i.
& BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A CLASSICAL
PHILOSOPHY THAT STRESSED MORAL PURPOSE & RELIGIOUS
IDEAS
(1)
HEADED BY MARSILIO FICINO
(a)
WHO ALWAYS KEPT A CANDLE BURNING
BEFORE BUST OF PLATO
(b)
MADE FIRST COMPLETE LATIN TRANSLATION
OF PLATO'S WORKS
(c)
SHOWS RENAISSANCE SPIRIT OF COMBINING
RELIGIOUS & SECULAR IDEAS
(d)
HIS TREATISE PLATONIC THEOLOGY
7.
LORENZO DE MEDICI
a.
COSIMO'S GRANDSON
b.
MOST FAMOUS
c.
HAD THE FACE OF A PRIZEFIGHTER BUT THE SOUL OF A POET
d.
ENJOYED POWER & PRESTIGE OF A PRINCE
e.
CALLED THE MAGNIFICENT
(1)
COURTESY TITLE APPLIED TO ANY PROMINENT MAN
f.
BOLSTERED BY INTERNATIONAL FAME OF BANK
g.
MERGED FAMILY MONEY W/CITY'S MONEY TO GENEROUSLY
PATRONIZE ARTS & LEARNING
h.
LONG-TIME PATRON OF MICHELANGELO
OTHER FAMOUS PATRONS OF RENAISSANCE
1.
STUDY OF OTHER CITY-STATES & TOWNS ILLUSTRATE THAT OTHER
FAMOUS FAMILIES PATRONS OF RENAISSANCE
2.
VISCONTI, SFORZAS, RULERS OF DUCHY OF MILAN,
3.
GONZAGAS, RULERS OF MANTUA
4.
ESTES, BORGIAS,
5.
POPES
6.
REN. POPES W/FEW EXCEPTIONS AS WORLDLY AS THEIR FELLOW
CITIZENS
7.
POPES TRANSFORMED ROME INTO FAMOUS CENTER OF ART &
LEARNING THAT AT TIMES RIVALED FLORENCE
8.
POPE ALEXANDER VI
a.
TOOK NAME AFTER ALEXANDER THE GREAT
9.
FATHER OF UNSCRUPULOUS CONDOTIERRI CAESARE BORGIA &
NOTORIOUS POISONER LUCREZIA
10.
DEVOTED MORE TIME & THOUGHT TO FURTHERING FORTUNES OF
FAMILY THAN TO RELIGIOUS MATTERS
11.
WEALTHY FAMILIES ACTIVELY SOUGHT TO CONTROL THE PAPACY
12.
MEDICI SUCCEED IN PLACING TWO OF THEIR MEMBERS, LEO X, SON
OF LORENZO & CLEMENT VII NEPHEW OF LEO IN OFFICE
13.
LEO, WHO WROTE TO HIS BROTHER, GOD HAS GIVEN US THE
PAPACY - LET US ENJOY IT

8
V.

LITERARY REPRESENTATIVES OF ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

A.
GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO 1313-75
1.
PETRARCH'S FRIEND &
2.
CHIEFLY KNOWN FOR HIS WITTY STORES, THE DECAMERON
3.
WHICH WON FOR HIM THE NAME "FATHER OF ITALIAN PROSE"
4.
MORE IMPORTANT WAS HIS PART IN CARRYING ON THE REVIVAL OF
LEARNING CLASSICS FROM PETRARCH
5.
FOR BOCCACCIO 1ST ITALIAN IN 7 CENTURIES TO LEARN TO READ
CLASSICAL GREEK
6.
IN ADDITION HE WROTE MANY LATIN WORKS OF SCHOLARSHIP
WHICH AIDED IN SEARCH FOR & IDENTIFICATION OF LOST
WRITINGS OF ANCIENT LITERATURE
7.
SOON HUNDREDS OF EAGER SCHOLARS WERE ENGAGED IN WORK
OF SPREADING ABROAD NEW LEARNING
8.
PRINCES, CHURCHMEN, & NOBLES IN ITALY NOW GAVE TO
LITERATURE & ART THE ATTENTION WHICH NORTH OF THE ALPS
WAS BESTOWED UPON THE STABLES & KENNELS
9.
PLACE OF KNIGHT ERRANT WAS TAKEN BY THE WANDERING
HUMANISTS WHO SOUGHT MSS AS THE FORMER HAD SOUGHT
ADVENTURES
10.
DECAMERON
a.
MASTERPIECE
b.
100 STORIES, RELATED DURING 10 DAYS (DECAMERON) BY
GROUP ESCAPING BLACK DEATH IN FLORENCE
c.
PORTRAYS WORLDLY SPIRIT OF RENAISSANCE
d.
TALES OF SENSUAL LOVE, PHILANDERING & ADVENTURE
(1)
PLAYBOY IN THEIR RIBALD CLASSICS
e.
WIDELY READ IN EUROPE
f.
OTHER WRITERS COPYING BOCCACCIO CALLED THEIR
SHORT STORIES = NOVELLAS
(1)
WHENCE OUR WORD NOVEL
B.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI 1469-1527
1.
HIS NAME IS BYWORD FOR POLITICAL DUPLICITY
2.
MOST WELL-KNOWN OF RENAISSANCE WRITERS
3.
IN SUCCEEDING CENTURIES MOST INFLUENTIAL RENAISSANCE
WRITER
4.
BUREAUCRAT (CHANCELLOR) FLORENCE WHILE MEDICI IN EXILE
(14 YRS)
5.
WHEN THEY RETURNED 1512 HE WAS FIRED, TORTURED, THEN
BANISHED FROM FLORENCE
6.
GAVE HIM LEISURE TO STUDY CLASSICS & WRITE
7.
HIS PATRIOTIC DREAM OF UNIFIED ITALY LED HIM TO WRITE PRINCE
a.
MANUAL FOR PRINCES OR TYRANTS
b.
FASHIONED HIS PRINCE IDEAL ON CAESARE BORGIA
c.
TAUGHT DOCTRINE THAT DIVORCES PRIVATE OR INDIVIDUAL
MORALITY FROM STATES' MORALITY
d.
EXCUSED USE OF DECEIT, HYPOCRISY & FORCE
e.
FAMOUS DICTUM SUMMARIZES THIS
(1)
END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS
f.
THE END JUSTIFIED THE MEANS & THE END WAS POWER
g.
CHRISTIAN CODE FROM BIBLE WOULD LEAD TO DISASTER
FOR STATE HE STATED
h.
OTHER RULERS AT TIME FELT FAILURE OF STATE WAS DUE TO
INDIVIDUAL WEAKNESS & SIN BUT STATE COULD FOLLOW A
MORAL CODE
i.
HE REPRESENTS 1ST ATTEMPT TO REMOVE AREA OF
BEHAVIOR FROM RELIGIOUS MORALITY

9
j.

C.

ALSO HE REPRESENTS A NEW KIND OF PESSIMISM

(1)
HUMAN WORLD CANNOT BE CHANGED
(2)
SO THEREFORE MUST LEARN TO DEAL W/EVIL &
VIOLENCE
k.
THE PRINCE FOR MACHIAVELLI WAS THEREFORE
RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THE STATE WOULD SURVIVE
l.
PRINCE BECAME A HANDBOOK OF RULES FOR SURVIVAL OF
THE STATE
m.
OTHER DICTA FROM PRINCE: A PRINCE MUST IMITATE THE
FOX AND THE LION - BE A FOX TO RECOGNIZE TRAPS & A
LION TO FRIGHTEN AWAY WOLVES. WHILE ONE SHOULD
AVOID BEING HATED, IT IS BETTER FOR A RULER TO BE
FEARED THAN LOVED ...BECAUSE FEAR INSTILLS OBEDIENCE
MUCH MORE SURELY THAN LOVE, WHICH IS FICKLE - MEN
HAVE LESS HESITATION IN OFFENDING A MAN WHO IS LOVED
THAN ONE WHO IS FEARED, FOR LOVE IS HELD BY A BOND OF
OBLIGATION WHICH, AS MEN ARE WICKED, IS BROKEN
WHENEVER PERSONAL ADVANTAGE SUGGESTS IT, BUT FEAR
IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE DREAD OF PUNISHMENT WHICH
NEVER RELAXES
8.
FOR HIS REALISTIC STUDY OF POLITICS MACHIAVELLI IS
CONSIDERED FOUNDER OF MODERN POLITICAL SCIENCE
9.
HE WAS READ BY ALL NB LATER RULERS
a.
QUEEN ELIZABETH I
b.
LOUIS XIV
c.
LENIN
d.
STALIN
e.
ADOLF HITLER
BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE 1478-1529
1.
ELEGANCE OF MANNERS AS WELL AS A CULTIVATED MIND WERE NB
TO WEALTHY ITALIAN CITIZENS
2.
CONSEQUENTLY THEY READ ETIQUETTE BOOKS TO LEARN RULES
OF CORRECT SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
3.
MOST FAMOUS & INFLUENTIAL BOOK ON RENAISSANCE MANNERS
PUBLISHED IN 1528 WAS BOOK OF THE COURTIER
4.
NO BOOK HAD MORE INFLUENCE AT TIME
5.
BY BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE
6.
ITALIAN COURTIER, DIPLOMATE FROM ARISTOCRATIC FAMILY
7.
WHEREAS FORMERLY THE SAINT, THE ASCETIC OR CHIVALROUS
KNIGHT HAD BEEN IDEAL TYPES IN M.A.
8.
THE PRINCE & THE COURTIER CAME TO SUPPLANT THEM
9.
IDEAL COURTIER RE CASTIGLIONE'S OWN WORDS:
a.
MASTER OF ETIQUETTE &
CLASSICS...WITTY, GRACEFUL, WARRIOR...VERSATILE
PARAGON, EQUALLY GIFTED IN ATHLETICS, MUSIC &
CULTURED ELOQUENCE...ONE'S ATHLETIC SKILL IN
SWIMMING, LEAPING, VAULTING & CASTING THE STONE
WERE EXPECTED TO EQUAL ONE'S SINGING VOICE &
ELEGANT WRITING STYLE & COMPOSING SONNETS
UNFORTUNATELY CASTIGLIONE NOTED MANY COURTIERS
LITTLE MORE THAN ACCOMPLISHED NARCISSISTS WHO
CURL THEIR HAIR, GLOSS THEIR FACES & CULTIVATE A WALK
SO LIMP & LANGUID THAT THEIR LIMBS ARE LIKE TO FALL
APART
10.
BOOK BECAME ESSENTIAL READING FOR NOBILITY
11.
SET STYLE FOR ELIZABETHAN GENTLEMEN
12.
EVEN EXTENDED ITS INFLUENCE TO EARLY AMERICA
a.
GENTLEMEN FARMERS USED IT TO BRUSH UP ON THEIR

10
MANNERS
VI.

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

A.
LONG-LASTING LEGACIES
1.
SO PERSUASIVE WAS IDEAL OF "RENAISSANCE MAN"
2.
& A CLASSICAL ALL-AROUND EDUCATION THAT WESTERN EUROPE
FOLLOWED THAT PATTERN UNTIL THIS CENTURY
3.
AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES STILL FOLLOW THE REN. PATTERN
a.
BY EMPHASIZING LIBERAL ARTS REQUIREMENTS
4.
& PROBABLY MOST REMARKABLE LEGACY
5.
FOR FIRST TIME IN WESTERN HISTORY MEN STRESSED THE FACT
THAT FEMALES SHOULD BE EDUCATED TOO
a.
SOME THINK IT WAS INFLUENCE OF PLATONISM
b.
WILL BE COVERED IN NEXT LECTURE ON N. RENAISSANCE