The Earthly Republic: Italian Humanists on Government and Society

by Benjamin G. Kohl (Editor)

The gradual secularization of European society and culture is often said to characterize the development of the modern world, and the early Italian humanists played a pioneering role in this process. Here Benjamin G. Kohl and Ronald G. Witt, with Elizabeth B. Welles, have edited and translated seven primary texts that shed important light on the subject of "civic humanism" in the Renaissance.

Included is a treatise of Francesco Petrarca on government, two representative letters from Coluccio Salutati, Leonardo Bruni's panegyric to Florence, Francesco Barbaro's letter on "wifely" duty, Poggio Bracciolini's dialogue on avarice, and Angelo Poliziano's vivid history of the Pazzi conspiracy. Each translation is prefaced by an essay on the author and a short bibliography. The substantial introductory essay offers a concise, balanced summary of the historiographcal issues connected with the period.

Genres: History, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Italy

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1978

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly fantastic and enjoyable collection of Italian humanist writings from the 14th and 15th centuries. Diligently translated from the original Latin with many excellent footnotes elaborating on the translations and sources used, this volume is a must have for anyone with an interest in renaissance Italy, the humanist writers, and history fans.

[Dami · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the Required readings, for my history class "The Renaissance" I thought this book was interesting to read during my time in class.

[Omitheus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read Leonardo Bruni’s “Panegyric to the City of Florence”; p135-163.

A love letter to Republican Florence.

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this for my class. Renaissance texts showcasing values of the period. very interesting.