Many strands form the tapestry of modern Western thought, theory and constantly unfolding reality. The revitalization of economies in Italy and Northwestern Europe are among the most significant of such constituent elements. A reconnection with Classical civilization, literature, art, humanistic ideals danced with mercantile concerns in patterns reincarnated down to the present generation.
The topic is vast, embracing influences from the Hanseatic League, the Byzantines, the Sicilians, Twelfth Century Latin literature and culture, and the life and thought of the glorious Islamic civilization. The theme shines with the central glory of Renaissance Italy and includes the artistic and financial heritage grasped and held high by the Dutch and English, whence much that is called American and Western.
At present this section offers: a brief outline of a translation of Dante's Divine Comedy and of Aretino's Selected Letters, summaries of translations of the first half of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, Castiglione's Book of the Courtier, Machiavelli's The Prince, Guicciardini's History of Italy, Vespasiano's Lives, Vasari's Lives of the Artists volume one and Benvenuto Cellini's Autobiography; it presents as well summaries of five significant modern works about the Renaissance and a link to the valuable Perseus Renaissance resource page.
This section was last updated on November 6, 2008 C.E. with the addition of a brief summary of the introduction to the second volume of George Bull's Penguin translation of Vasari's Lives of the Artists.
I. Original Material in Translation:
1. Dante's Inferno Very brief outline of Dorothy Sayers' English translation of Book One of the Divine Comedy.
2. Dante's Purgatorio Very brief outline of Dorothy Sayers' English translation of Book Two of the Divine Comedy.
3. Dante's Paradiso Very brief outline of Sayers/Reynolds translation of Book Three of the Divine Comedy.
4. Orlando Furioso I brief summary of the first half of Ariosto's impressive epic.
5. The Book of the Courtier A brief summary of Castiglione's consideration of the ideal Renaissance courtier.
6. The Prince Rough draft of a summary of Machiavelli's influential political work.
7. Guicciardini's History of Italy Precis of this first national history of Italy, the masterpiece of one of the key political thinkers of the Renaissance.
8. Vespasiano Part One Summary of the first half of this collection of Renaissance biographies by the leading bookseller of his day.
9. Vespasiano Part Two Summary of the second half of this collection of Renaissance biographies by the leading bookseller of his day.
10 Vasari's Lives of the Artists Summary of the the first volume of the Penguin translation of this key primary source on Renaissance art.
11. Vasari's Lives of the Artists volume II Summary of the introduction to this second volume of George Bull's Penguin translation.
12. Benvenuto Cellini's Autobiography Summary of this fine look at the Renaissance through the eyes of one of its skilled artisans.
13. Aretino Selected Letters brief outline of George Bull's translation in the 1976 Penguin edition.
II. Secondary Material; Modern Works About the Renaissance:
1. The Penguin Book of the Renaissance Summary of this very valuable introduction to the period.
2. The Florentine Renaissance Michael McKenny's precis of Vincent Cronin's entrancing introduction to Renaissance Florence.
3. Renaissance Italy 1464-1534 summary of Peter Laven's interesting treatment of the topic.
4. Power and Imagination relatively short summary of Lauro Martines' detailed look at Renaissance city states and patronage.
5. A History of Venice Part One Summary of the first half of John Julius Norwich's substantial study.
6. A History of Venice Part Two Summary of the last half of John Julius Norwich's substantial study.
Perseus Renaissance Page Link to a very valuable Renaissance Resource Page