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