“The State as a Work of Art” in Northern Italy, c.1300 – c.1650 (10 credit points)

Content of Course

Starting from the nineteenth-century Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt's premise of the 'State as a Work of Art', the course charts the development, flowering and sometimes the decline of the patchwork of states that covered Northern Italy in the Renaissance and early modern period. Individual dynasties will be examined against the growing influence of major European powers. We will also explore the political and economic transformation of these regional states and the cultural magnificence of their courts that was central to the identity of their rulers.

1. The State as a Work of Art: Introduce Jacob Burckhardt's work and the section on the evolution of the city-state. Introduce the northern states of the Italian peninsula and provide an overview of historical context and key events.

2. The Duchy of Milan: Political structures and power relations in Milan. The Visconti and the Sforza. Events during the Italian Wars (1494-1535). Imperial and Spanish Milan in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

3. Small Principalities 1: Mantua. Analysis of the political structure and image construction. The Gonzaga dynasty: patronage and war.

4. Small Principalities 2: Ferrara and the Este dynasty.

5. Genoa: Maritime Republic.

6. Venice: The Most Serene Republic.

7. Duchies, marquisates and feudal principalities: Montferrat, Saluzzo, Trent, Aquileia.

8. The Rise of Piedmont and the House of Savoy.

9. Women and Power: Isabella d'esme, Marchioness of Mantua; the Duchesses of Savoy and other regents.

10. Conclusions: Discuss the influence of the state, trade and the economy, the cultural and political changes during the period, and compare the forms of government and image projection considered throughout the course.

Teaching method(s)

The course will include lectures, seminar discussion and one-to-one discussion of the course and formative assessment to feedforward to the final assessment. Students will be introduced to a range of contemporary sources (history, literature, architecture, art) and will develop their critical analysis skills during lectures and group discussion.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate, by way of coursework as required, an understanding of the different forms of the Italian city-state and the role of particular dynasties in the politics of Renaissance and early modern Italy.

• Demonstrate, by way of coursework as required, comprehension of strategies of Renaissance image management, both in public and private, and acknowledge the role of the court.

• Demonstrate, by way of coursework as required, a critical awareness of Italian Renaissance cultural productions, including works of material culture, art, architecture, and literature, and be aware of the role of patronage.

• Demonstrate, by way of coursework as required, an understanding of the wider political, economic and cultural context of Northern Italy in this period.

Sources

Core Readings

• Burckhardt, J., 1990. The Civilisation of the Renaissance in Italy. London: Penguin.

• Cole, A., 1995. Art of the Italian Renaissance Courts. London: Orion.

• Gambarini, A. and Lazzarini I., 2012. The Italian Renaissance State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Hollingsworth, M., 1994. Patronage in Renaissance Italy. London: John Murray.

• Martines, L., 1979. Power and Imagination: City-states in Renaissance Italy. London : Allen Lane

• Rosenberg, C. M., 2010. The Court Cities of Northern Italy: Milan, Parma, Piacenza, Mantua, Ferrara, Bologna, Urbino, Pesaro, and Rimini. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press

Assessments

10 credit courses have one assessment. Normally, the assessment is a 2000 word essay, worth 100% of the total mark, submitted by week 12. To pass, students must achieve a minimum of 40%. There are a small number of exceptions to this model which are identified in the Studying for Credit Guide.

Studying for Credit

If you choose to study for credit you will need to allocate significant time outwith classes for coursework and assessment preparation. Credit points gained from this course can count towards the Certificate of Higher Education.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.