In the Footsteps of the Ancients: The Origins of Humanism from Lovato to Bruni (Studies in Medieval & Reformation Thought)

This monograph demonstrates why humanism began in Italy in the mid-thirteenth century. It considers Petrarch a third generation humanist, who christianized a secular movement. The analysis traces the beginning of humanism in poetry and its gradual penetration of other Latin literary genres, and, through stylistic analyses of texts, the extent to which imitation of the ancients produced changes in cognition and visual perception. The volume traces the link between vernacular translations and the emergence of Florence as the leader of Latin humanism by 1400 and why, limited to an elite in the fourteenth century, humanism became a major educational movement in the first decades of the fifteenth. It revises our conception of the relationship of Italian humanism to French twelfth-century humanism and of the character of early Italian humanism itself. In the Footsteps of the Ancients is the recipient of the Jacques Barzun Prize 2000 in Cultural History of the American Philosophical Society. This publication has also been published in paperback, please click here for details. This Monograph Demonstrates Why Humanism Began In Italy In The Mid-thirteenth Century. It Considers Petrarch A Third Generation Humanist, Who Christianized A Secular Movement. The Analysis Traces The Beginning Of Humanism In Poetry And Its Gradual Penetration Of Other Latin Literary Genres, And, Through Stylistic Analyses Of Texts, The Extent To Which Imitation Of The Ancients Produced Changes In Cognition And Visual Perception. The Volume Traces The Link Between Vernacular Translations And The Emergence Of Florence As The Leader Of Latin Humanism By 1400 And Why, Limited To An Elite In The Fourteenth Century, Humanism Became A Major Educational Movement In The First Decades Of The Fifteenth. It Revises Our Conception Of The Relationship Of Italian Humanism To French Twelfth-century Humanism And Of The Character Of Early Italian Humanism Itself.--jacket. Ch. 1. Introduction -- Ch. 2. The Birth Of The New Aesthetic -- Ch. 3. Padua And The Origins Of Humanism -- Ch. 4. Albertino Mussato And The Second Generation -- Ch. 5. Florence And Vernacular Learning -- Ch. 6. Petrarch, Father Of Humanism? -- Ch. 7. Coluccio Salutati -- Ch. 8. The Revival Of Oratory -- Ch. 9. Leonardo Bruni -- Ch. 10. The First Ciceronianism -- Ch. 11. Conclusion. By Ronald G. Witt. Appendix: P. [509]-514. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [515]-548) And Indexes (p. [549]-562). Table of Contents 6 Acknowledgements 8 Abbreviations 12 Chapter One Introduction 16 Chapter Two The Birth of the New Aesthetic 46 Chapter Three Padua and the Origins of Humanism 96 Chapter Four Albertino Mussato and the Second Generation 132 Chapter Five Florence and Vernacular Learning 189 Chapter Six Petrarch, Father of Humanism? 245 Chapter Seven Coluccio Salutati 307 Chapter Eight The Revival of Oratory 353 Chapter Nine Leonardo Bruni 407 Chapter Ten The First Ciceronianism 458 Chapter Eleven Conclusion 510 Appendix 524 Bibliography 530 Indexes 564 Index of Persons 564 A 564 B 564 C 565 D 566 E 566 F 566 G 566 H 566 I 567 J 567 K 567 L 567 M 567 N 568 O 568 P 568 Q 568 R 568 S 569 T 569 U 569 V 570 W 570 Z 570 Index of Places 571 A 571 B 571 C 571 E 571 F 571 G 571 I 571 J 571 L 571 M 571 N 572 O 572 P 572 R 572 S 572 T 572 U 572 V 572 Index of Subjects 573 A 573 B 573 C 573 D 573 E 574 F 574 G 574 H 574 I 575 K 575 L 575 M 575 N 575 O 575 P 575 R 576 S 576 T 577 V 577 W 577 "This monograph demonstrates why humanism began in Italy in the mid-thirteenth century. It considers Petrarch a third generation humanist, who christianized a secular movement. The analysis traces the beginning of humanism in poetry and its gradual penetration of other Latin literary genres, and, through stylistic analyses of texts, the extent to which imitation of the ancients produced changes in cognition and visual perception.". "The volume traces the link between vernacular translations and the emergence of Florence as the leader of Latin humanism by 1400 and why, limited to an elite in the fourteenth century, humanism became a major educational movement in the first decades of the fifteenth. It revises our conception of the relationship of Italian humanism to French twelfth-century humanism and of the character of early Italian humanism itself."--BOOK JACKET. This study shows the stages of intellectual development through which humanism emerged as a European phenomenon. An investigation of humanist culture in Italy between 1260 and 1340 shows how classical Roman rhetorical forms took root in Italy two generations before Petrarch.