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WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
College of Letters
Fall 2010
Prof. Laurie Nussdorfer
Writing Tutor Siena Kramer
College of Letters 106/History 121
The Italian Renaissance
Between 1350 and 1520 Italian writers, thinkers, and artists struggled to recover a
lost Golden Age, the world of the ancients. Although they did not succeed in their
goal, they ended up by inspiring a new Golden Age. This seminar explores the
intellectual and cultural history of Renaissance Italy. What was the Italian
Renaissance? Who created and supported it and why? Whom did it include and
whom did it exclude? What were its lasting consequences? After getting to know the
Italian social setting for the Renaissance, we will focus on the intellectuals, writers and
artists of fifteenth-century Florence and Rome. In keeping with the interdisciplinary
character of the College of Letters the course emphasizes close reading of original
texts in translation and places literary, historical, and philosophical works in their
historical context.
Assignments and Attendance:
All assigned reading is required. The readings are the basis of the course. Because
the class is a seminar in which discussion of the readings is the primary mode of
learning, being prepared for and participating in discussion is essential, and for that
reason class attendance is required. You are expected to attend every class. If you
must miss a class, be sure to contact me, preferably in advance. Please bring the
books or handouts with the readings we are scheduled to discuss to class.
Papers, Revisions, and Deadlines
There will be a formal writing assignment, based on assigned reading,
about every other week. Six 4-page papers are assigned, as indicated on the
syllabus. You should plan to write 5 of the 6, three before October break (Oct. 1819) and two after October break. You must write the first and last papers (due
Sept. 20 and Dec. 8). Papers are due at the start of class on the date indicated on the
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syllabus. A paper is late if it is not turned in at the beginning of class. No late
papers are permitted. There are no extensions.
Evidence of revision is required. Submit your paper to the writing tutor for
the course, Siena Kramer, by TIME pm
DAY of the week before it is due. You
may retrieve your paper in the same place on
; you must revise and correct it, and
hand in both the draft and the final version stapled at the start of the class period
on the due date.
Footnoting
The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., provides the style you must use for all
footnotes or end notes.
Readings:
A packet of readings [P on syllabus] will be available for purchase. Details TBA.
In addition the following books or packets are available at Broad Street Books:
(Be aware that books will be returned to publishers in October so purchase early.)
K. Bartlett, The Civilization of the Italian Renaissance: A Sourcebook (or packet)
E. Cochrane & J. Kirshner, Readings in Western Civilization, Vol. 5 The
Renaissance
E. S. Cohen and T. V. Cohen, Daily Life in Renaissance Italy
N. Machiavelli, The Prince (ed. David Wootton)
J. Paoletti & G. Radke, Art in Renaissance Italy (3rd edn.) (Also on reserve.)
Plato, The Symposium (trans. Benjamin Jowett)
Grading
Discussion* = 25 percent; Five papers = 75 percent.
*The discussion grade is based on two elements:
(1) Reading responses (5 percent)
On days when you are not handing in a paper you will write brief responses to
the day's question to be delivered on the course Moodle by 11 am.
(2) Participation (20 percent)
How is participation in discussion evaluated? These are the criteria:
(1) responsiveness, (2) willingness to advance class discussion, (3) thoughtfulness
of response, (4) ability to articulate ideas clearly, (5) ability and willingness to
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present an original point of view and sustain it in debate, (6) relevance of
contribution (in contrast to random comment), (7) attendance. Feel free to talk with
me about how you’re doing in discussion at any time. This portion of the class
grade will be determined at the end of the semester.
Office Hours
I have two offices so make sure you know the right coordinates!
Butterfield C315
PAC 213
Mon. 2:45-4:05
Tues. 10:45-11:55
Students with Disabilities
It is the policy of Wesleyan University to provide reasonable accommodations to
students with documented disabilities. Students, however, are responsible for
registering with Disabilities Services, in addition to making requests known to me in
a timely manner. If you require accommodations in this class, please make an
appointment with me as soon as possible [during the 2nd week of the semester], so
that appropriate arrangements can be made. The procedures for registering with
Disabilities Services can be found at http://www.wesleyan.edu/deans/disabilitystudents.html
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Schedule of Topics, Readings, and Assignments:
Part I Introduction
6 Sept.
Introduction
8 Sept. The Myth of the Renaissance
(H) Jacob Burckhardt, The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy (orig.
pub. 1860), excerpt
(H) Peter Burke, The Renaissance (2nd edn., 1997), chs. 1 and 2
Part II The Setting
13 Sept.
Italy and Italians in the Renaissance
Cohen and Cohen, chs. 1 and 2
Bartlett, 66-67, 174-79, 183-85, 43, 363-73
Cochrane and Kirshner, 104-17
15 Sept.
Values and Behavior
Cohen and Cohen, chs. 5 and 6
Bartlett, 330-31, 336-39, 160-74
(P) I. Maclean, The Renaissance Notion of Woman 1
20 Sept.
(PAPER 1)
Literacy and Education
Cohen and Cohen, ch. 8
Bartlett, 7-10, 140-41, 155-60, 281-89
(P) Vergerio and Parentucelli
22 Sept.
Florence: City Republic
(P) R. Black, “Florence”
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In the packet modern scholarly writings, which historians call secondary sources, are indicated
by italics. Most packet readings are primary sources, that is, they were written during the
Renaissance.
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Cochrane and Kirshner, 139-44
Bartlett, 33-43, 195-208, 128, 355-58, 331-36
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27 Sept.
Rome: Papal Court and Capital
(P) J. Hankins, “The Popes and Humanism”
(P) Poggio Bracciolini, “The Ruins of Rome” (1430)
Bartlett, 315-16, 358-63, 325-29
Part III
The Classical Revival
Interpreting the Ancients: The First Generations (1350-1450)
29 Sept.
Petrarch (1304-74) and Cicero (106-43 BCE)
Bartlett, pp. 10-15
(P) Cicero, “On the Orator” (excerpt)
(P) Petrarch’s Favorite Books
(P) Petrarch’s Letters #1
(P) R. Witt, “Beginnings of Humanism”
(P) H. Baron “Petrarch’s Revolution”
4 Oct.
(PAPER 2)
Petrarch and Laura
Bartlett, pp. 17-24
(P) Petrarch’s Sonnets
(P) Petrarch’s Letters #2
6 Oct.
Leonardo Bruni (1370-1444) and the Greeks
Bartlett, pp. 102-108
(P) Bruni’s Praise of Petrarch
(P) Thucydides, Pericles’ Funeral Oration (429 BCE)
(P) Bruni’s Funeral Oration for Nanni Strozzi (1427)
(P) Bruni’s Panegyric to the City of Florence (1403-04)
(P) A. Rabil, “Civic Humanism”
(P) J. Hankins, “The Civic Panegyrics of Leonardo Bruni”
11 Oct.
(PAPER 3)
Women and Humanism
Bartlett, pp. 192-194, 276-281, 292-296
(P) Women humanists
13 Oct.
Portraying Florentine Women
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(P) J. Woods-Marsden, “Portrait of the Lady, 1430-1520”
From Virtue and Beauty, ed. D. A. Brown (Nat. Gallery of Art, 2001), 6387. This book is also on Olin Library Reserve so you can see the
illustrations in color. Call number: ART Oversize+ N7606.V57 2001
October Break
20 Oct.
Music in Florence and Rome?
25 Oct.
No class
Competing with the Ancients: Three Moments in the Visual Arts
27 Oct.
Florence and the New Public Art of the City (1400-50)
Bartlett, pp. 66-67, 209-216
(P) Painter’s record
(P) R. Goldthwaite, “The Building of Renaissance Florence”
Paoletti & Radke, Art in Renaissance Italy,2 pp. 204-21, 246-50
1 Nov.
Leon Battista Alberti (1404?-1472): Theorist of the New Art
Bartlett, pp. 223-239, [253]
(P) Dedication to “On Painting”
Paoletti & Radke, Art in Renaissance Italy,
pp. 34-35, 226-33, 281-85, 347-48, 353-55
3 Nov.
Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) and a History of Art
Bartlett, pp. 402-424
Paoletti & Radke, Art in Renaissance Italy, pp. 302-10, 397-423
Re-Interpreting the Ancients: The Later Generations (1450-1520)
8 Nov.
(PAPER 4)
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Lorenzo Valla (1407-1457)
Also on Olin Library Reserve.
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(P) The Elegance of Latin
(P) The Forged Donation of Constantine
10 Nov.
The Recovery of Plato
Plato, The Symposium
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15 Nov.
(PAPER 5)
Plato’s Impact: Ficino (1433-99) and Castiglione (1478-1529)
Bartlett, pp. 117-125, 188-92
(P) Castiglione, The Book of the Courtier
17 Nov.
The Italian Renaissance and the Printing Press
(class meets in two groups in Olin Library Special Collections)
(P) L. Febvre and H. Martin, The Coming of the Book
(P) H. G. Fletcher, “In Praise of Aldus Manutius”
22 Nov.
Florence's Political Crises
Cochrane and Kirshner, pp. 144-71
Bartlett, pp. 329-336, 418-20
(P) Guicciardini on Savonarola
Paoletti & Radke, Art in Renaissance Italy, 387-89
Wootton introd. to The Prince, pp. xi-xvi
Thanksgiving Break
29 Nov.
The Renaissance Popes
Bartlett, pp. 297-299, 317-21 (re-read 358-63)
Review Cochrane and Kirshner, pp. 162-71
(P) Guicciardini on Cesare Borgia andPope Julius II
1 Dec.
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) and the Crisis of his Times
(P) Vettori and Machiavelli letters
Machiavelli, The Prince
6 Dec.
Machiavelli and Livy (59 BCE-17 CE)
Cochrane and Kirshner, pp. 185-210
(P) Livy, History of Rome
8 Dec.
(PAPER 6)
Machiavelli's Politics: Despot or Democrat?
(P) G. Mattingly, “Political Science or Political Satire?”
(P) Q. Skinner, “Machiavelli’s Advice to Princes?”
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Wootton introd. to The Prince, pp. xvii-xxxvii