HIST 3030

From the devastation of the Black Death to the upheavals of the Protestant Reformation, this course explores the extraordinary transformation of Italian society between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. Moving beyond the clichés of "rebirth," it examines how crisis, creativity and competition reshaped politics, religion and everyday life in city-states such Florence, Venice, Milan and Rome. Topics may include the causes and consequences of the fourteenth-century crises; the rise of humanism and the revival of antiquity; the relationship between culture and power; popular piety; changing gender relations; luxury and display; and the impact of printing. By integrating political history with intellectual and cultural analysis, students will gain a nuanced understanding of how Renaissance Italians reimagined authority, identity, and consumption. Lecture: Three hours a week. Restriction: Student must have second year standing or above OR have permission of the instructor.