The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy
Description
A classic of cultural history, The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy demystifies the Renaissance while providing clear and compelling arguments for the elevation of art in the study of history. Burckhardt's groundbreaking work locates at the heart of the Renaissance a profound shift in the ways in which humanity positioned itself in relation to the world and the universe, proving that art can change not only a culture, but the course of history itself.
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Person
Jacob Burckhardt (1818-1897) was a Swiss cultural historian. Born in Basel, Burckhardt was the son of a Protestant minister. As a young man, he studied theology, but eventually decided to study history at the University of Berlin. After a few years in Germany, he studied art history at the University of Bonn before returning to teach at the University of Basel, where he remained for the majority of his career. Burckhardt is considered a pioneer for his thesis of history not as a description of the past based on political circumstances and related events, but as a dynamic and holistic story of cultural and creative change. His groundbreaking work, The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy, is noted for its reconstruction of the ways in which art, philosophy, and politics combined to create a new sense of the human spirit and a new conception of humanity's role in the universe. More than anyone else, Burckhardt elevated the position of art and culture in the study of history, and for his achievements he is recognized today on the Swiss thousand-franc banknote.
