FLORENCE: THE MYTH OF A CITY (ELR)

Catalog description

Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and cradle of modern Western civilization because, among the many Italian city-states, it experienced a cultural development that had no precedent for European history. Florentine republicanism is a political paradigm through which we, still today, trace the origins of the values of democracy, freedom, rational thought, individualism, the scientific method and capacity for critical reflection. This course covers and analyzes different historical eras of Florence from its founding during the Roman era until today. Special attention is given to periods of intensive development in Florence: the re-birth of the Middle Ages; splendor of the Renaissance; and crucial role of the Risorgimento, when the city was the capital of the new Kingdom of Italy (1865-1871) and became a center of culture and modern civilization. This course is only offered in Florence.