The Italian Renaissance
Fall Semester 2003

Frank Luttmer
113 Classic Hall
M W F: 7:30-8:00, T 10-11
866-7205 (office) (502) 454-8348 (home)
historians@hanover.edu


Course Description and Objectives

The Renaissance is a discussion-oriented seminar focusing on the culture of Italy from roughly 1350 to 1550. The course is designed to introduce students of the liberal arts to the sources and historiography of the Italian Renaissance. Considerable emphasis is placed on alternative interpretations of the relationship between power and imagination, between economic and political structures and the world of ideas and art. There are no prerequisites to the course, but students are expected to be able to analyze and interpret primary documents thoughtfully, evaluate alternative interpretations of historiographical problems critically, and write substantive, interpretive research papers.


Readings

1. Donald Wilcox, In Search of God and Self
2. Lauro Martines, Power and Imagination
3. Gene Brucker, Giovanni and Lusanna
4. Evelyn Welch, Art in Renaissance Italy 1350-1500
5. Baldassare Castiglione, The Book of the Courtier
6. Niccolo Machiavelli, The Portable Machiavelli
7. Readings from the Internet (links to which can be found in the schedule below)



Grades

Final grades will be based on an evaluation of the following.

1. Two mid-term exams (15% each) and a final exam (20%)

2. A research paper submitted in two drafts (15% for the first draft and 25% for the second)

3. Class participation (10%)



Schedule

Economy and Politics

Sept. 3: Wilcox, General Introduction, Chs. 1 and 2
Sept. 5: Martines, Preface, Chs. 1 and 2
Sept. 8: Martines, Chs. 3 and 4
Sept. 10: Martines, Chs. 5 and 6
Sept. 12: Martines, Chs. 7 and 9
Sept. 15: Martines, Chs. 8 and 10

Humanism and Neoplatonism

Sept. 17; Wilcox, Chs. 3 and 4
Sept. 19: Wilcox, Ch. 5; Petrarch
Sept. 22: Wilcox, pp. 90-98; Vergerius
Sept. 24: Wilcox, pp. 98-105, 123-5, 139-40; Valla
Sept. 26: Wilcox, Ch 7; Pico
Sept. 29: Martines, Ch. 11
Oct. 1: Exam 1

Court Culture

Oct. 3: Martines, Ch. 12; Castiglione, 31-57
Oct. 6: Castiglione, 57-68, 90-104, 124-134, 193-203
Oct. 8: Castiglione, 207-26, 284-309
Oct. 10: Castiglione, 322-345

Early Renaissance Art, Architecture, and Music

Oct. 13: Welch, Ch.1
Oct. 15: Welch, Chs. 2 and 3
Oct. 17: Welch, Ch. 4
Oct. 22: Welch, Chs. 5 and 6; Painting
Oct. 24: Welch, Chs. 7 and 8
Oct. 27: Welch, Ch. 9; Music
Oct. 29: Martines, Ch. 13






Love and Marriage

Oct. 31: Brucker, Preface, Chs. 1-3; First Draft Due
Nov. 3: Brucker, Chs 4 and 5 and Epilogue
Nov. 5: Exam 2

Machiavelli

Nov. 7: Wilcox, Ch. 9; Martines, Ch. 14; Machiavelli, 77-92
Nov. 10: Machiavelli, 92-146
Nov. 12: Machiavelli, 146-166; Wilcox, Ch. 10
Nov. 14: Machiavelli, 167-188, 203-213, 224-228,
Nov. 17: Machiavelli, 281-301, 351-356, 381-383
Nov. 19: Machiavelli, 419-429
Nov. 21: Machiavelli, 430-479

The High Renaissance

Nov. 24: Wilcox, Ch. 11; Martines, Ch 15
Dec. 1: Art
Dec. 3: Martines, Ch. 16
Dec. 5: Review for the Final Exam
Dec. 10 2-5 PM: Final Exam




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