Impact of Humanism

This volume seeks to explore our understanding of the Renaissance, starting with the text that defined our conception of the period, Burckhardt’s classic work, The Civilisation of the Renaissance in Italy (published in 1860). A particular concern is the ‘revival of antiquity’ which Burckhardt saw as one of the definitive features of Renaissance culture. This is explored through a reassessment of the role of humanism, with detailed case studies in music (Josquin Desprez), moral philosophy (Valla, Castiglione, More) and political thought (Machiavelli).