Civic Humanism

Emergence of Civic Humanism

Coluccio Salutati

Political Factors and Figures' Contribution to Civic Humanism

Influence of Historians

Leonardo Bruni

Argued that Civic Humanism had important philosophical and moral dimensions which later informed Florentine conceptions of good government

The name "Civic Humanism", was given by historians like Hans Baron to the cultural and intellectual movement that first emerged in Florence under the influence of Coluccio Salutati and Leonardo Bruni

Hans Baron

Eugenio Garin

Crisis of the early Italian Renaissance

Renaissance philosophy

Humanism evolved in stages

Scholarship of Petrarch

Focused on studying and imitating Roman classical literary forms

Petrarch was seen as a historian who bridged the Medieval and Renaissance epochs

Petrarch remained attached mostly to Medieval Christian values

Aimed to adapt classical learning to Christian conceptions of morality

Petrarch stopped short of embracing a classical conception of morality that attributed virtue to a life of political engagement

Petrarch was interested in exploring human nature and the importance of learning and pursing wisdom and Christian perfection

Petrarch did not vision humanism to include political involvement

Petrarch felt betrayed by Cicero who was a Roman senator and republican when he found out in Cicero's letters, that he conspired to eliminate Julius Caesar upon his arrival in Rome

The emergence and movement of 'rediscovered' Greek and Roman literature

Political and Economic state of Florence in 1250-

Trade

Florence is one of several republics to emerge in Italy by the time,

Venice being the oldest republic with others such as Genoa, Florence, and Lucca following in response to the Guelph/Ghibelline conflict that divided the Italian states

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Florence grew economically through trade, textile production, and banking

By the time of the Black Plague, 1347, Florence had a population of 100,000, which made it one of the five largest cities in Europe

Become an important mercantile center in the 13th Century

Economic change, post 1250

Wool Production

Arno River

Creation of Republic

The river's location was extremely important and critical for textile trade

Became politically independent after 1250

Operated under the leadership of the Calimala guild

The Florin and Banking

1252 - the Gold Florin minted

Baking was controlled by elite families such as, Peruzzi and Bardi families

Florence was located on an important land route for trade to Milan and Venice, which regarded Florence as a cosmopolitan state

The contado was used to grow wheat, grain and oil which was also important to trade and Florence's economy

Wool process was overseen by Lanaiuolo. Process included spinning, weaving, fulling, dyeing, shearing, and mending

Economics of Civic Humanism

A city of wealthy merchants and bankers

Hans Baron's Ethose

Civic humanism and 'new learning' became crucial to partake in local politics/governance

Became the engine of the cultural movement because the new learning offered sons a formation that was considered essential to partake in local governance

These men and women consequently became most important patrons of the new style of art and architecture in the city, art that expressed the supreme confidence of the urban elite and their own identity as members of a republican state

The identity of Florence gave rise to a new ethos that shaped Florentine taste in classical literature, but also its art and architecture. Baron and Garin argued that Renaissance Florence reflected the glorification of civic life and an earthly city of man

Guilds

7 Higher guilds, ie goldsmiths, wool (calimala), banking (cambi)

14 Lesser guilds i.e., carpentry, blacksmiths, masons, grammar teachers

Florentine Social Groups

Nobility (magnati,grandi)
Merchant-elite (noplo grasso) Merchants
Lawyers, notaries
Artisans (21 guilds; 7 major, 14 minor)
Ciompi (landless urban workers)

Social Fluidity

Cosmopolitan society Social mobility

Sites of social/cultural interaction included, marketplaces, convents, and salons

Merchants in Florence ran the government which was unusual considering most European states, this meant that Merchants knew many languages as well as an extensive network

Republican Governance

1293 Ordinance of Justice

  • 21 guilds formed the basis of a government
  • 1,000 men militia
  • Restrictions on noble families
  • Signoria (9 priors) -- 2 months
  • 12 Buonomini (3 month)/16 gonfaloniere (4 month)
  • 15 Magistracies
  • 2 Legislative assemblies (collegi)
  • Council of the Popolo
  • Coucil of the commune 6 month terms

Strengths and Weaknesses of System

Strengths

  • More equitable tax system
  • More inclusive consultative process
  • Stable during peace times

Weaknesses

  • Slow to react in times of crisis
  • Factionalism (Alberti, Stronzzi,
    Medici, Ricci families)

Patrician Government (1382-1434)

Signoria dominated by merchant elite. Ciompi Revolts (1378-1383): estimo-equitable tax system appraisal

Major Political Families

  • Albizzi
  • Medici
  • Strozzi
  • Ricci
  • Pitti

Albizzi family in power, same structure but, restricted access to office

  • 2 seats in Signoria controlled by Albizzi
  • Elaborate electoral controls

Salutati (1331-1406)

  • Chancellor of Florence in 1375
  • Statesman and scholar
  • Brilliant rhetorician
  • Writer, collector of manuscripts
  • Talented politician
  • Compassionate Republican

Salutati was the longest serving office-holder in the government. Developed a reputation as the face of the Florentine republic and as a source of stability during a number of crises

He used his status to display the utility of humanist learning in political life for celebrating the greatness of Florence

Advocated and Promoted New Learning

Organized study groups which both studied and translated classical Latin texts regarding political life while circulating them, a key figure was Cicero and his works

Hired Manuel Chrysoloras, a teacher of ancient Greek so that the original works of Plato and other Greeks could be studied and translated from the original

Wrote humanist political treaties (concerning the Tyrant)

Advocated for the new learning associated with Petrarch. He argued that it was useful, even essential for good governance. Salutati was an admirer of the political Cicero for this reason

Recruited humanists into political office

Leonardo Bruni (d.1444)

  • Chancellor (1410-1414; 1427-1444)
  • Greek Scholar

Writings: History of the Florentine Peoples; Praise of the city of Florence (1400)

Recruited humanists into chancellery and other government offices

Together, Salutati and Bruni created generations of individuals who were imbued with a powerful sense of civic duty in Florence

Characteristics of Civic Humanism

Learning and virtue

Republicanism and the vita activa

Writings by civic humanists emphasis right to self governance, pride in the city, Florentine institutions as perfect expressions of its virtuous nature

Florentines, like ancient Romans, considered a vibrant literal culture the mark of a wise virtuous state

It became an aspect of political leadership to be trained in classical learning and to be an excellent latinist

History and Patriotism: Florence

Civic Virtue

Classical Sources:

  • Aristotle's Politics
  • Plato, Laws;
  • Tacitus
  • Cicero
    Humanist Sources
  • Gregorio Dati: Istoria: Visconti stole
    Florentine Freedom
  • Pier Paolo Vergerio: Cicero''s writings
    disseminated
  • Bruni, Praise of Florence

The Active Life: A new Christian ethos
Cicero model - "to think is to act"


Elements

  • Life of action = virtuous
  • Life of action = for the common good
  • Rhetoric: persuasion to make "right" decisions

Cicero stated that not just any action was good, only that which served the common good

According to Alberti man must be useful to man, the triumphs he argued, triumphed over other nations by the strength of their own virtues. These were virtues according to Alberti, that involved doing good works and maintaining cultural traditions

Civic Architecture and Cultural Greatness

  • Urban environment as a place of virtue
  • Florentine society as "virtuous society"
  • Buildings reflected influence of classical forms
  • Vetuvius' On Architecture