Course Goals and Objectives:

This course has two major objectives, which are interrelated. First, it will introduce you to a period of European history from about 1350 to 1530, and investigate within that context the intellectual and cultural phenomenon known as the Renaissance. The major focus will be on Italy, and in particular, Florence, although Northern Europe will receive substantial attention as well. Second, the course will provide instruction in the theory and practice of public speaking. I believe this requirement is a natural fit for a Renaissance course, because public speaking was a matter of major importance to intellectuals of the Renaissance.

Written assignments will consist of two 4-page papers, a midterm, and a final. Papers are due at class time on the day stated in the syllabus. If you need an extension, you must speak to me before the paper is due, and agree to a new date for the paper to be completed. The oral assignments will consist of a panel discussion (5%), a team presentation (10%), and an individual presentation (10%). You will also be asked to do regular homework assignments consisting of written responses to discussion questions on the readings.

Grades will be calculated as follows:

• Papers: 10% each
• Midterm: 10%
• Final: 20%
• Graded oral assignments: 25%
• Attendance and Participation: 15%
• Homework: 10%

 Books to Purchase:

• Kenneth Bartlett The Civilization of the Italian Renaissance (Heath)
• Desiderius Erasmus Praise of Folly (Penguin)
• Dante Algieri The Divine Comedy (New America Library)
• Margaret King The Renaissance in Europe (McGraw/Hill)
• Niccolo Machiavelli The Portable Machiavelli (Penguin)
• Marguerite de Navarre Heptameron (Penguin)

 Calendar of Assignments:

Fri Feb 8

Introduction

Mon Feb 11   Perspectives on the Renaissance

King Introduction viii-xv Bartlett Introduction 1-7

Wed Feb 13  Background

King Chapter 1 Italy and Rome Bartlett I, 7-15 (Quintilian, Cicero)

Fri Feb 15  Medieval Italy

King Chapter 2 An Age of Republics 33-51 Bartlett III 35-43 (Giovanni Villani), 60-70 (Short Documents, Leonardo Bruni)

 

Mon Feb 18  Dante I

King 51-62 Dante Inferno cantos I-VI, IX-XI, XIV-XV

Wed Feb 20   Dante II

Dante Inferno cantos XVI, XVIII-XIX, XXIII, XXVI, XXVIII-XXX

Fri Feb 22  Dante III

Dante Inferno cantos XXXI-XXXIV, Paradiso XI, XXX-XXXIII

 

Mon Feb 25 Boccaccio

Bartlett III 43-60, X 363-373 Boccaccio website

Wed Feb 27 Petrarch

Bartlett II Petrarch

Fri Feb 29

FIRST PAPER DUE
Lecture and discussion: The Theory and Practice of Speaking; Reading: Aristotle's Rhetoric Book I, Parts 2 and 3 (handout)

 

Mon Mar 3  Humanism and Education

King Chapter 3 Human Dignity and Humanist Studies 65-75 Bartlett VIII 270-289 (Petrarch, Bruni, Guarino)

Wed Mar 5  Humanist Values and Scholarship

King 75-85 Bartlett IV 72-88 (Salutati, Vespasiano, Poggio), IX 307-315 (Valla)
FIRST ORAL ASSIGNMENT: PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Fri Mar 7  Civic Humanism

Bartlett IV 88-108 (Nicoli, Bruni)
PANEL DISCUSSIONS

 

Mon Mar 10  Women and Humanism

King 85-88 Bartlett IV 108-116 (Nogarola), VI 192-194 (Cereta), VIII 289-296 (Saluatai, Cereta)
PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Wed Mar 12  Neo-Platonism

King 89-93 Bartlett IV 118-134 (Ficino, Pico)

Fri Mar 14 The Production of Texts

King 93-98 Chapter 2 from Elizabeth Eisenstein The Printing Revolution in Early Modern Europe (handout)
SECOND ORAL ASSIGNMENT: TEAM PRESENTATIONS

 

Mon Mar 17 Artists and Patrons

King 4 New Visions 101-112 Bartlett VII 211-223 (Brunelleschi, Taccola, Baptistry Doors competition, Pinturicchio, Isabella d'Este, Perugino)
TEAM PRESENTATIONS

Wed Mar 19 The Theory and Practice of Art and Architecture

King 112-127 Bartlett VII 223-239 (Alberti)
TEAM PRESENTATIONS

Fri Mar 21--Fri Mar 28: SPRING BREAK

Mon Mar 31  Art of the High Renaissance

King 127-134 Bartlett VII 239-250 (Leonardo da Vinci); XI 402-424 (Vasari)
TEAM PRESENTATIONS

Wed Apr 2  Social Elites and Social Outcasts

King 5 At Home and in the Piazza 137-151 Bartlett VI 195-208 (Documents: Poor and Marginal Women)
TEAM PRESENTATIONS

Fri Apr 4

MIDTERM EXAMINATION

 

Mon Apr 7  Family Ties

King 152-164 Bartlett 174-192 (Marriage and Family, Machiavelli, Castiglione)
TEAM PRESENTATIONS

Wed Apr 9  Two Humanists Discuss Women

Bartlett 140-174 (Barbaro, Alberti)
TEAM PRESENTATIONS

Fri Apr 11 The Renaissance Papacy

King 6 The Church and the People 168-174 Bartlett IX 299-307 (Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini); 315-329 (Roderigo Borgia); X 358-363 (Life in Papal Rome)
TEAM PRESENTATIONS

 

Mon Apr 14 Visionaries and Ordinary People

King 174-192, 277-284 Bartlett IX 329-339 (Savonarola, Dati)
TEAM PRESENTATIONS

Wed Apr 16 

SECOND PAPER DUE

Lecture and Discussion: Theories of Rhetoric

Fri Apr 18 The Eclipsing of Italy

King 7 Statecraft and Warcraft Bartlett XI 424-441 (Cellini)
THIRD ORAL ASSIGNMENT: INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Mon April 21 Machiavelli I

King 8 The Crisis and Beyond 225-234 Bartlett X 351-355 (Machiavelli) Machiavelli The Prince I-XI
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS

Wed Apr 23  Machiavelli II

Machiavelli The Prince XI-XXVI, Discourses pp. 167-196
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS

Fri Apr 25 Machiavelli III

Machiavelli Discourses pp. 196-261
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Mon Apr 28 Courtliness and Culture

King 234-254 Bartlett X 341-351 (Aretino, Michelangelo); 381-392 (Guicciardini)
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS

Wed Apr 30  Erasmus I

King 9 The Renaissance and Two Reformations 257-277 Erasmus Praise of Folly 3-31
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS

Fri May 2 Erasmus II

Erasmus Praise of Folly 32-77
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Mon May 5  Erasmus III

Erasmus Praise of Folly 78-134
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS

Wed May 7  Marguerite I

King 10 The Renaissance Beyond the Alps 287-303 Marguerite de Navarre Heptameron preface, Introduction, stories 1-5
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS

Fri May 9 Marguerite II

King 304-318 Marguerite Heptameron stories 6-10
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Mon May 12 Beyond Europe

King 11 The Renaissance and New Worlds 321-330 Selections from Columbus's Journals (handout)
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Wed May 14 Towards the Scientific Revolution

King 330-350

 

FINAL EXAMINATION: Saturday, May 17 2:00-4:00

 

N.B.: The final examination date is firm. Please make your plans for the end of the semester accordingly. Students who need to take the exam at another time must petition the Chair of the History Department, Jim Farrell, in writing. Do not make such requests of your professor. Students are advised to review the final examination policy as stated on p. 45 of the St. Olaf catalogue: "Chairs and directors will exclude from consideration rescheduling requests involving rides home, early family vacations, early summer employment, pre-purchased airline tickets, and the like." Please also make a note of the dates of the midterm, and make any plans with these obligations in mind. If you believe you need to reschedule, please request permission of your professor at the beginning of the term.

Laurel Carrington carringt@stolaf.edu
Most recent update: January 29, 2008

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