Unit name | Culture and Civilisation of the Renaissance (Level C Special Topic) |
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Unit code | HIST14006 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Austin |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of History (Historical Studies) |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
The Renaissance has often been regarded as a key turning point in the history of Europe, heralding the birth of the modern world. Many of the texts which were produced under its influence have come to be regarded as classics, and are still popular today. This Special Topic will seek to develop an appreciation of the culture and civilisation of the Renaissance through reading selections from a number of these texts, by renowned authors such as Petrarch, Vasari, More, Castiglione and Machiavelli. The unit will follow a largely thematic approach, subjecting a different area of endeavour (such as the visual arts, politics, philosophy, religion) to investigation each week. We will also consider the extent to which the different texts require to be considered within the context of their genre, and the extent to which a common mentality and set of attitudes and assumptions may be identified in them.
Aims:
By the end of the unit students should have:
10 x 2 hour seminars.
1 x 2 hour exam