Renaissance People (Paperback)

Like every era, the Renaissance brims with stories. In this book, Robert Davis and Beth Lindsmith highlight dozens of notable lives from between 1400 and 1600. They bring to life wily politicians, eccentric scientists, fiery rebels and stolid reactionaries, as well as a pornographer, an acrobat, an actress, a poetic prostitute, a star comedian and a least one very fretful mother. Some names Leonardo, Luther, Medici and Machiavelli are famous, but many others will be new to general readers. Their stories, ninety-four in all, remind us that history is more than dates and abstract concepts: it also arises from the lives of countless individual men and women. Table of ContentsIntroduction: Capturing the Renaissance 1. Old Traditions and New Ideas 14001450 2. Europeans at Peace 14501470 3. The Emerging Nations 14701490 4. Sudden Shocks 14901510 5. The Collapse of the Old Order 15101530 6. The New Wave 15301550 7. The Framing of Modernity 15501600