Wednesday, April 11, 2012

One of the most confusing chapters in Renaissance history concerns the Italian Wars. The chapter in King that you're reading for this class goes into "deep background" with the history of the Italian city-states from the late medieval period up to the mid-16th century. Here are some things to take away from that chapter:

• What is the difference between despotism and oligarchy?
• Define signori, and also Condottieri. Who were these mercenary captains?
• Have a sense of the military situation in Italy in the period of the 14th, 15th centuries. Why were the citizen militias inadequate?
• Milan's Giangaleazzo Visconti's siege of Florence in 1402, followed by the seeminly miraculous withdrawal of the threat, is believed by some scholars to have launched the civic humanism of the early 15th century. The Florentines saw Giangaleazzo's death as a sign from God that their republican form of government was favored over Milan's despotism. What I want you to be able to do is connect chronologically that event and the civic humanists as a group. The early 15th century is regarded as a time when the republican spirit was strong, and public entities (such as the commune itself, or the higher guilds) sponsored the marvelous art projects of that time (Ghiberti's doors, Brunelleschi's dome).
• Who were the Medici and how did they come to power? By the end of the 15th century, Lorenzo the Magnificent had used private money to underwrite the flowering of art and letters at that time. Other private benefactors of great wealth did the same. The kind of projects they funded, however, were typically those pertaining to the families themselves: palaces, private chapels, paintings for these family homes.
• During the late 14th and early 15th centuries, each of the major city states sought to expand, gradually taking over smaller states. By the mid 15th century, the Peace of Lodi kept them out of each other's hair for about 40 years.
• And now we begin to look into the Italian Wars, launched by Charles VIII of France. This will lead to Italy's becoming a battleground between the French and the Habsburg family.
• Things reach the utimate point of despair with the 1527 Sack of Rome. Why did it happen? Note: It would help to take a look at Wikipedia on the Sack of Rome (1527) just to get the basic characters in mind.
• Finally, you can't say those Medici don't have staying power! What was the outcome for Florence in particular?

Homework and Presenter Questions (for homework do two):

1. What is going on in Cellini's autobiography? What seems to be his objective? Who are the major players? What parts of the account do you think can be trusted?
2. What impression does Cellini's account give of the clergy? He introduces his readers to Pope Clement, plus a cardinal who will one day be a pope. What do we learn about their character?
3. The excerpts also include sections pertaining to Cellini's work under the patronage of Francis I of France. What does he reveal about his relationship with the king?
4. How do you respond to the curious mixture of high art and violence in Cellini's account? How does he represent himself as a man, and what picture does the reading present of Renaissance models of male behavior?

Laurel Carrington carringt@stolaf.edu
Most recent update: January 26, 2012

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