Girolamo Savonarola was born in Ferrara,21 September, 1452. He was the son of Niccolo Savonarola and Elena Bonaccorsi. Of the seven children they had together, Girolamo was the third child. He was educated by his paternal grandfather, Michele, a very well educated doctor He was also a man of rigid moral and religious principles. His grandfather was a very successful physician who oversaw his education and wanted to help his grandson. His family had amassed a great deal of wealth from his medical practice. During this time, Girolamo decided to focus on medicine just like his grandfather. Wanting to follow his grandfather’s footsteps, he prepared himself and entered a medical school. After his grandfather’s death, he attended the public school, which was run by Battista Guarino. He earned a arts degree at the University of Ferrara. Girolamo’s passion for medicine diminished. On April 24, 1475, he left his father’s house and his medical studies to enter the Dominican order at Bologna to become a monk. He returned home four years later and taught Scripture in the Convento degli Angeli. He later took up a position in Florence, which was the home of the Renaissance in 1482. In 187, he returned to Bologna for assessment. He failed to be selected for an academic life. He wanted a famed preacher to balance the hostile views of the Pope to Florence. He was advised by the theologian and preacher Pico. He met Savonarola before and wanted to learn from him. Throughout the years, Savonarola had made many solid enemies. One of them was the Borgia pope, Alexander VI. On Palm Sunday in 1498, St Mark’s was attacked by a mob who were very angry and kept screaming. They were vicious and Savonarola was arrested by the Florentine authorities. There we...
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...used some trouble. The monastery of San Marco was “besieged, and Savonarola was arrested, condemned, and, on May 25, 1498, publicly executed” (Streissguth).
Savonarola’s death affected a few people at that time period. One of them was Niccolo Machiavelli. He had witnessed and observed his execution from afar. After Savonarola’s death, Machiavelli became “involved in the Florentine republic’s public affairs” He rose really quick starting as a secretary through the “ranks of civil service, becoming a traveling ambassador and diplomat”(Streissguth). His travels revealed to him to a great amount of choices of Renaissance courts and politicians, that included the Holy Roman emperor and the king of France. Girolamo believed in his own actions and had to be set on fire for that to which was wrong. Because of this, he became well known still for today for what he had done.
“I’ll be out of here and away from all you knaves for one time anyway, as not a month will pass before you’ll see whether I’m nobody or a somebody.” The story of Bianco Alfani reflected the nature of 14th century Florentine society where, as Alfani remarked, the election to public office could make or destroy a person. In late 14th century and early 15th century Florence, decreased population and expanding commerce provided a favorable environment for ambitious individuals. The real life examples of Buonaccorso Pitti and Gregorio Dati demonstrated the positive role of ambition in Florence. Pitti, a nobleman had an extremely successful career, partaking in military campaigns, holding public office in Florence and being an ambassador to foreign courts. Gregorio Dati, the grandson of purse venders, engaged in commerce, rising in social standing which culminated with his election to public office. Holding office was a definitive sign of success and recognition in Florence. In contrast was the tale Bianco Alfani, a deemed man unworthy of office. As told by Piero Veneziano, Alfani was the chief jailor in Florence who was duped into believing he had been named captain of the town of Norcia. Alfani publicly made a fool of himself, spending all his money and creating a great fanfare over his supposed appointment. Comparing the lives of Pitti and Dati to the story of Bianco Alfani illustrates how economic and social change in 14th century Florence produced a culture centered on reputation and commerce. For men like Pitti and Dati, who flourished within the constraints of Florentine society, their reward was election to office, a public mark of acceptance and social standing. Those who were ambitious but failed to abide by the values o...
of water to the west of the Outer Banks of North Carolina for the Pacific
The study of religion is often a rigorous process because the central tenets of the subject: image, ritual, and myth are often copious in their complexity. For example, consider the multiple meanings that are inherent in the image of a crucifix. Some Christians might view it as an image of suffering, whilst others would reject that notion and instead perceive it to be one of love. These differences may seem inconsequential at first, but they can overtime shape the beliefs of an individual and by extension a community. To understand this dynamic better one only has to analyze the Christo Aparecido (Christ Appeared), an authentic Mexican crucifix with a fascinating history from the colonial era to the present. This history is made known by the text, Biography of a Mexican Crucifix: Lived Religion and Local Faith from the Conquest to the Present by Jennifer Hughes, from which I contend that over the life of the Christo Aparecido there continues to be an understanding among devotees that this crucifix is sacred because it displays animus while being a vestige for the sacred to occupy. To support my position I will attempt to relate the moments where the Christo Aparecido is said to show signs of life, in particular his stay in Mexico City during the colonial era and his role in more modern times with rival groups clashing over its efficacy in the village of Totolapan.
Niccolò Machiavelli was known during much his life as a part of the republican government in Florence until 1512. At that time, the Medici family took over the city and ruled under a more monarchical system. From that point until his death in 1527, Machiavelli was always just on the outside of Florentine politics. He would occasionally get work from the Medici but his tasks were never as important as they had been under the republican government of the past. As he was trying to find his way back into a major role in Florentine government, Machiavelli wrote The Prince, a manual of sorts that explained how a monarch should rule his state and why. While Machiavelli had been a strong proponent of republican ideals in the past, in The Prince, his ideas are far from adhering to republicanism. The book seems to promote the ideal monarch as a cold, heartless person whose only goal in life should be to retain power, regardless of who or what he destroys. This includes killing enemies of the state, personal enemies of the Prince, and even, in some cases, friends or family. While The Prince was not the first book of this kind, it was the first to suggest a government that rules with no regard for religion or morality. Machiavelli did not particularly pay heed to religious law in the way he lived his life, but he also did not particularly care for the Catholic Church of the time because of the lack of morality demonstrated by the Pope's and other supposedly "religious men's" actions at the time. There are other works that Machiavelli wrote both before and after The Prince that survive today, as well as letters he wrote to his friends that demonstrate a different set of ideals than th...
I can’t believe they have done this to me. Stripped me of my armor, of my clothes, but most importantly, my dignity. And worst of all, they didn’t even kill me: they left me here to die. Lying here, after being stabbed by a spear, and receiving 25 wounds. Such a disheartening way to die. To have time, to think about your life. And it all started on September 13, 1475 in Florence, Italy.
An Italian by the name of Cesare Beccaria also discussed society, but more in terms of social control and matters of crime and punishment. He was an opponent of torture, capital punishment, and of any punishment that was done to excess or didn’t fit the crime that warranted it. He arrived at his conclusions through the logic that was so popular of the day. An excellent example of this logic is in this phrase concerning capitol punishment: “Is it not absurd, that the laws, which detest and punish homicide, should, in order to prevent murder, publicly commit murder themselves?” Rational arguments such as these permeated Enlightened conversations and didn’t fail to be noticed by many of the great national rule...
Pico was born into a noble family close to Modena on February 24, 1463. He was the son of Giovan Francesco I and Guila Boiardo. He was born with an extraordinary gift for learning. He studied Canon Law in Bologna, but then he moved to Ferrara, earned more education, and then to Padua (“Pico della Mirandola, Giovanni (1463-1494)), there, he met one of his most important teachers, Elia del Midigo (“Giovanni Pico della Mirandola” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). By now he was studying philosophy. He moved to Florence in 1484, while there, he became one of the most active members of Lorenzo de Medici's Platonic Academy, and he also became chief exponent of Neoplatonism. While in Florence, he increased his knowledge on Platonism (“Pico della Mirandola, Giovanni (1463-1494)). In 1485, he moved from Florence to Paris where the citadel of Aristotelian scholasticism was. He also studied Hebrew, Arabic, and Aramaic as well as Latin and Greek (Rebhorn 57) At the age of 22, right before he left Paris, he had made his first important contribution to philosophy-He defended the ...
Piero was responsible for long-term loans with those who supported and bought from the many Medici banks. His father passed down all loans even after his death. This caused merchants to eventually go bankrupt. Piero continued the support of the arts during the Renaissance. Piero’s taste was much more eclectic than his father. Piero bought rare books and added them to the family collection. Although Piero wasn’t nearly as successful as his father he kept the businesses running well during his time. He died in 1469, due to gout and lung disease, and is buried in the Church of San Lorenzo, next to his brother
Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy in 1469 to a middleclass family. The time in which Machiavelli lived Italy as a country was not united but divide and split into little providences and republics. He latter became responsible for the Florentine militia against the Medici government and rule. When the Medici power reclaimed Florence Machiavelli was arrested for conspiracy he was tortured and then banished from Florence. During his banishment he wrote the book The Prince in 1513 which is dedicated to the new prince of Florence Lorenzo De Medici. The book was a discourse to the prince on how to run a country and also a way Machiavelli can get a job working in politics again.
Agathocles of Syracuse was considered to be an individual engaged in a life of crime, although not one devoid of mental and physical virtù (Machiavelli, 2000: 45). Nevertheless, his most remarkable success was the assassination of the senators and wealthy people of Syracuse, an action that could be considered to be based on bloodlust rather than responding to rational calculations (Machiavelli, 2000: 48). At the same time, Machiavelli seems to be very clear about the differences that resulted in the case of Cesare Borgia, who arranged the killing of Oliverotto of Fermo, who had disrupted the social order through a series of assassinations. The actions of Cesare Borgia have been premeditated in the same way as those undertaken by Oliverotto and Agathocles (Machiavelli, 2000: 51). However, in this particular case the ulterior motives differ considerably from the other two, as they obeyed to a rational and moral logic that was conducive to pursuit of virtù (Vivanti, 2013:
The Medici’s were a prominent family in the Renaissance, who ruled Florence from 1434 to 1737. They are regarded as being one of the most powerful and richest families in the whole of Europe. The Medics used this great status and wealth to develop an improved Florence, one that was significantly influenced by the Renaissance. The Medici family can most certainly be regarded as the significant heroes of the Renaissance. This is due to their significant promotion and patronage in the arts, in turn bringing focus back to the antiquities, a major importance during the Renaissance period. Furthermore, the Medicis can be considered the great heroes of the Renaissance, due to their significant influence of Renaissance Humanist thinking. On top of this, although the Medici family were allegedly corrupt and supposedly paid many bribes in order to become so powerful, they still focused on benefiting the heart of the Renaissance- the city-state of Florence- and should thus not be considered the great villains of the Renaissance, but instead the heroes.
After five hundred years, Niccolo Machiavelli the man has ceased to exist. In his place is merely an entity, one that is human, but also something that is far above one. The debate over his political ideologies and theories has elevated him to a mythical status summed up in one word: Machiavelli. His family name has evolved into an adjective in the English language in its various forms. Writers and pundit’s bandy about this new adjective in such ways as, “He is a Machiavelli,” “They are Machiavelli’s,” “This is suitable for a Machiavelli.” These phrases are almost always the words of a person that understands more about Niccolo’s reputation than the man himself. Forgotten is that Machiavelli is not an adequate example of the ruler he is credited with describing; a more accurate statement would be to call someone a “Borgia” or a “Valentino.” Most of the time they are grossly mistaken in their references. All these words accomplish is to add to the legend, and the misinterpretation, of the true nature of Niccolo Machiavelli.
The sections that I will be presenting are 73, 74, and 75. I will discuss the political ideas of Niccolo Machiavelli, Francesco Guicciardini, and Thomas Hobbes during the time of Florence Republic. First, Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy in 1469 at a time when the country was in political upheaval. Italy was divided between four dominant city-states, by which each of them was always at the mercy of the continual changing of princes and governments.
Machiavelli once said ‘Because men are wretched creatures who would not keep their word to you, you need not keep your word to them’. Machiavelli is seen in history as one of the most influencing men of all time. Matter a fact, “the name Machiavelli was a synonym for the devil” (Barnett page 6). Machiavelli established a lot of this reputation from his work The Prince, it was written in 1513-1514. But, a lot people thought that he was misunderstood considering he wrote many books and people focus mostly on one. Second you must take the time period into thought and realize how the world was about 500 years ago.
During the time 1469, a child by the name of Niccolo Di Bernardo Del Machiavelli was born. Some may know him as an Italian philosopher, humanist, or an evil minded fellow associated with the corruptness of totalitarian government. In Machiavelli’s home state of Florence, he introduces the modern political theory. Hoping to gain influence with the ruling Medici family, Niccolo wrote a pamphlet called The Prince (Prezzolini). Niccolo lived a nondescript childhood and his main political experience in his youth was watching Savonarola from afar.