The Impact of Humanism

Jacob Burckhardt published his classic and thought-provoking study, The Civilization of the Renaissance, in 1860. Discussion and controversy over his claims for the Renaissance have fueled debates ever since. Taking Burckhardt’s work as a starting point and subjecting it to the criticism of a new generation of scholars, the contributors to this book explore the continuing relevance of his study to our understanding of the Renaissance today. A particular concern of this volume is the 'revival of antiquity' that Burckhardt saw as one of the definitive features of Renaissance culture. This notion 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).