Friday, May 9, 2008

The Renaissance beyond the Alps has been our topic for the past two classes. At right, we get a glimpse of the King Francis I wing of the chateau at Blois. Our textbook describes such residences, where the arts flourished and the Italian Renaissance showed its influence, as appropriate settings for the powerful new monarchs. Here are some things for you to consider as you pick your way through chapter ten of the textbook:

• What changes did the nobility undergo during the period we're studying? What is the distinction between the "nobility of the sword" and the "nobility of the robe"?
• What's the difference between northern European cities and Italian cities? What did they have in common?
• Hanseatic League
• Inquisition
• What was the significance of the marriage betweeen Ferdinancd and Isabella?
• What was the importance of the city of Amsterdam?
• Charles I/Charles V
• Philip II
• What was the nature of humanism in Spain? What effect did the Counter-Refromation have on the humanist movement there?
• French Wars of Religion
• Henry VIII

Homework and Presenter Questions:

1. One of the most important stories in the entire collection is Story 10.  Give a talk about the things the story reveals about the way members of the 16th century nobility lived.  Are there things here that surprise you?  Two possibilities that come to mind are Amador’s matrimonial strategy, and the actions of Florida’s mother.  With which of the two lovers do you sympathize more: Amador or Florida?
2. A theme that occurs again and again in these stories is the theme of deceit.  Look at several examples of deception in this particular group of stories and address the following: are any of the deceptions immoral?  Are any of them justifiable?  How do the storytellers react to these accounts?

Laurel Carrington carringt@stolaf.edu
Most recent update: January 25, 2008

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