A Short History of the Italian Renaissance

by Kenneth R. Bartlett

Award-winning historian Kenneth R. Bartlett applies his decades of experience teaching the Italian Renaissance and leading tours across Italy to this new and beautifully illustrated overview, A Short History of the Italian Renaissance. Bartlett provides a lively cultural history that emphasizes many of the themes typically identified with the Italian Renaissance: the recovery of antiquity, the dignity of man, the state as a work of art, unbridled egoism, and naturalism.

A Short History of the Italian Renaissance traces the roots of the Renaissance from Dante and Petrarch right through to the end of the period. The narrative is accompanied by 72 stunning colour illustrations, genealogies of the Aragon, Este, Gonzaga, Medici, Montefeltro, Sforza, and Visconti families, a map, a timeline of events, a bibliography, and an index.

Contents:
1. Defining the Renaissance 2. Before the Renaissance 3. Social Continuities 4. Petrarch 5. Humanism 6. The Republic of Florence 7. Rome and the Papacy 8. The Maritime States: Pisa, Genoa, and Venice 9. The Principalities 10. Renaissance Neo-Platonism 11. The Age of Crisis 12. Medici Popes and Princes 13. The Counsel of Experience in Changing Times 14. Art and Architecture 15. The End of the Renaissance in Italy Conclusion

Genres: History, Renaissance, Nonfiction

402 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 2013

About the author

Kenneth Bartlett is a professor of History & Renaissance Studies at the University of Toronto. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, where he served as the editor of Renaissance and Reformation/Renaissance et Reforme and president of the Canadian Society for Renaissance Studies. He has received multiple teaching awards and was appointed the first director of the Officer of Teaching Advancement for the University of Toronto. Professor Bartlett has written three books, including Humanism and the Northern Renaissance.

Reviews

[Hailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and interesting to read. It was an assigned text for Italian Culture and Civilization, very useful!

[John Racioppi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storytelling, cited sources, moral ambiguity, and historical analysis. A beautiful and fascinating work that Italian/Medieval historians and history buffs should put on their reading lists!

[Isabel Pliszka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noted! I’ll try to remember all that

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! I also listened to the audio "Great Courses" ready by Bartlett, and it was terrific!