From Byzantium to Italy : Greek Studies in the Italian Renaissance

"Which famous poet treasured his copy of Homer, but could never learn Greek? What prompted diplomats to circulate a speech by Demosthenes - in Latin translation - when the Turks threatened to invade Europe? Why would enthusiastic Florentines crowd a lecture on the Roman Neoplatonist Plotinus, but underestimate the importance of Plato himself? Having all but disappeared during the Middle Ages, classical Greek would recover a position of importance - eventually equal to that of classical Latin - only after a series of surprising failures, chance encounters, and false starts. This important study of the rediscovery and growing influence of classical Greek scholarship in Italy from the 14th to the early 16th centuries is brought up to date in a new edition that reflects on the recent developments in the field of classical reception studies, and contains fully up-to-date references to aid students and scholars. From a leading authority on Greek palaeography in the English-speaking world, here is a complete account of the historic rediscovery of Greek philosophy, language and literature during the Renaissance, brought up-to-date for a modern audience of classicists, historians, and students and scholars of reception studies and the Classical Tradition. "--Bloomsbury Publishing Which famous poet treasured his copy of Homer, but could never learn Greek? What prompted diplomats to circulate a speech by Demosthenes - in Latin translation - when the Turks threatened to invade Europe? Why would enthusiastic Florentines crowd a lecture on the Roman Neoplatonist Plotinus, but underestimate the importance of Plato himself? Having all but disappeared during the Middle Ages, classical Greek would recover a position of importance - eventually equal to that of classical Latin - only after a series of surprising failures, chance encounters, and false starts. This important study of the rediscovery and growing influence of classical Greek scholarship in Italy from the 14th to the early 16th centuries is brought up to date in a new edition that reflects on the recent developments in the field of classical reception studies, and contains fully up-to-date references to aid students and scholars. From a leading authority on Greek palaeography in the English-speaking world, here is a complete account of the historic rediscovery of Greek philosophy, language and literature during the Renaissance, brought up-to-date for a modern audience of classicists, historians, and students and scholars of reception studies and the Classical Tradition Title Page Copyright Page Contents Preface to the First Edition Abbreviations Chapter 1 The Beginnings i Precursors ii Petrarch, Boccaccio and Pilato Chapter 2 Chrysoloras: Methods of Learning the Language Chapter 3 Bruni and Other Early Translators Chapter 4 Consolidation i A first glance at Venice ii The significance of the year 1423: Aurispa iii The second half of Bruni’s career iv Traversari Chapter 5 Vittorino da Feltre Chapter 6 Guarino Chapter 7 Filelfo Chapter 8 Greek Prelates in Italy i The Council of Florence (1439) and its consequences ii The Greek cardinal Chapter 9 Valla Chapter 10 Rome under Nicholas V and His Successors Chapter 11 Florence in the Second Half of the Century i Argyropoulos ii Ficino iii Scholar-printers: Chalcondyles and Janus Lascaris Chapter 12 Politian Chapter 13 Padua, Bologna, Ferrara and Messina Chapter 14 Venice i Ermolao Barbaro and Pietro Bembo ii The Aldine publishing house, the Neakademia and Forteguerri’s manifesto iii The publications of the first ten years iv Interruptions v Musurus Chapter 15 Conclusion Notes Indexes