Humanism and Empire - The Imperial Ideal in Fourteenth-Century Italy (Hardcover)

For more than a century, scholars have believed that Italian humanism was predominantly civic in outlook. Often serving in communal government, fourteenth-century humanists like Albertino Mussato and Coluccio Saltuati are said to have derived from their reading of the Latin classics a rhetoric of republican liberty that was opposed to the 'tyranny' of neighbouring signori and of the German emperors. In this ground-breaking study, Alexander Lee challenges this long-held belief. From the death of Frederick II in 1250 to the failure of Rupert of the Palatinate's ill-fated expedition in 1402, Lee argues, the humanists nurtured a consistent and powerful affection for the Holy Roman Empire. Though this was articulated in a variety of different ways, it was nevertheless driven more by political conviction than by cultural concerns. Surrounded by endless conflict - both within and between city-states - the humanists eagerly embraced the Empire as the surest guarantee of peace and liberty, and lost no opportunity to invoke its protection. Indeed, as Lee shows, the most ardent appeals to imperial authority were made not by 'signorial' humanists, but by humanists in the service of communal regimes. The first comprehensive, synoptic study of humanistic ideas of Empire in the period c.1250-1402, this volume offers a radically new interpretation of fourteenth-century political thought, and raises wide-ranging questions about the foundations of modern constitutional ideas. As such, it is essential reading not just for students of Renaissance Italy and the history of political thought, but for all those interested in understanding the origins of liberty

General

Imprint:	Oxford UniversityPress
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	March 2018
Authors:	Alexander Lee (Fellow)
Dimensions:	242 x 163 x 33mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	462
ISBN-13:	978-0-19-967515-9
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political science & theory Books > Humanities > History > World history > 500 to 1500 Books > Humanities > History > European history > General Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political ideologies > Imperialism Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Alternative belief systems > Humanist & secular alternatives to religion > General Books > History > European history > General Books > History > World history > 500 to 1500 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Alternative belief systems > Humanist & secular alternatives to religion > General Promotions
LSN:	0-19-967515-5
Barcode:	9780199675159

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!